Combined_Sheet_Responses_To_Mod.pdf

HQ0013-15-R-0007

Questions and Answers

20 August 2015

Q1. Paragraph 1.5.1., p. 68, references that the contractor, at a minimum, should develop quality control procedures that addresses the areas identified in Technical Exhibit 3, “Performance Requirements Summary.” Could the

Government please provide a copy of this Exhibit?

**A1. PRS will be added to the RFP.

Q2. Could the Government please confirm the anticipated period of performance of this contract and the anticipated start date?

**A2. Anticipated start date is October 1, 2015.

Q3. Section 5, Basic Services, on p. 73 states that “the contractor must provide the resume of all personnel performing on this contract.” Could the Government confirm if this is in reference to the contract or offerors’ proposals?

**A3. Language in Part 5 is language for performance under the contract resulting from this solicitation.

The paragraph is changed FROM: “The contractor shall provide qualified Administrative and Technical support personnel to perform the tasks set forth in Part 5 of the PWS. The contractual support personnel shall be already trained in their positions. The contractor must provide the resume of all personnel performing on this contract. Before filling any vacancies during the performance of this contract, the contractor should review applications and identify a minimum of three qualified candidates. The contractor shall provide the candidate’s resume for government review.”

TO: “The contractor shall provide qualified Administrative and Technical support personnel to perform the tasks set forth in Part 5 of the PWS. The contractual support personnel shall be already trained in their positions. The contractor must provide the resume of all personnel performing on this contract.

Before filling any vacancies during the performance of this contract, the contractor should review applications and identify a minimum of three qualified candidates. The contractor shall provide the candidate’s resume for government review.”

Q4. Paragraph 5.5.1, p. 84, and paragraph 5.11.1, p 88, refers to multiple CORs designated for this contract based on the Regional Centers (RCs). Could the Government confirm which RC COR will oversee RC’s common requirements (i.e. Section 5.5. of the Performance Work Statement)?

**A4. The resulting contracting will be an Indefinite Quantity type contract. Services for the each center will be done on separate task orders. Common Requirements refers to requirements that the centers had that they considered similar. A COR will be designated for each task order. However, there will be one COR designated at the base contract level after award is made.

As a result the language at FAR 52.216-1 is changed FROM: “The Government contemplates award of a hybrid type of contract with the majority of the Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) being Firm Fixed

Price with Labor Hour, Cost Reimbursable and Cost Plus Fixxed Fee type CLINs contract resulting from this solicitation.”

To , “The Government contemplates award of a hybrid Indefinite Quantity type contract with the majority of the Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) being Firm Fixed Price with Labor Hour, Cost

Reimbursable and Cost Plus Fixed Fee type CLINs contract resulting from this solicitation.”

Q5. Paragraph 5.5.2.1, p. 84, includes the ACSS Facilitator/Speaker under Program Support (Surge) but there is no indication of hours associated with the position. Paragraph 5.5.2.2. does list hours for the WJPC Facilitator/Speaker.

Is there a number of hours to plan for to support ACSS Facilitator/Speaker?

**A5. The CLINs associated with these paragraphs are CPFF. See CLINs 0031AA, 0031AB and their associated option periods CLINs. They have established ceiling amounts in the schedule. Offerors are to enter Fee amounts at

CLINs.

Q6. Could the Government clarify if the positions listed under paragraphs 5.12.1, and 5.12.1 on p. 89 are currently are to be transferred to the new program and that the incumbent program manager will facilitate the transition?

**A6. The tasks at 5.12.1 and 5.12.2 are not a part of any current contract. The language is part of the contract that will result from this solicitation.

Q7. Paragraph 5.26.2, p. 92, references Annex E, under theater entry requirements. Please provide Annex E.

**A7. Annex E is part of the “DOD Foreign Clearance Manual/Foreign clearance Guide (FCG)”.

Q8. Paragraph 6.1.2. on p. 126 states “Offerors shall submit five (5) hard copy versions of their proposal. Four (4) of the copies shall have the offeror’s name and any other identifiers redacted or removed.” Please clarify if “offeror” and “subcontractor” should be used as the preferred terms to replace any identifiers.

**A8 Offerors may use any method that effectively removes or covers identifiers in the body, headers and footers of submissions. If there is need to make a distinction between an offeror and a subcontractor the method suggested in

Q8 may be used.

Q9. Standard Form 1449 states that the due date is 12:00 AM 28 August 2015, while Section 6.5.1., page 130, states that the due date is NLT 2:00 PM EST 28 August 2015. Please provide the preferred due date/time.

**A9. The due date and time is NLT 2:00 PM EST 28 August 2015. SF 1149 will be revised to reflect the same.

Q10. Paragraph 6.2.3.a, p. 128, requires that resumes be submitted for all proposed permanent staff, but gives no page limit per resume. What page limit does the Government suggest for each resume?

**A10. The second sentence of 6.2.3.a is changed from, “Offeror shall submit resumes for all proposed permanent staff personnel.” to, “Offeror shall submit resumes for all proposed permanent staff personnel.” The following sentence is added to 6.2.3.a. “Resumes shall be no more than three (3) pages.”

Q11. Volume II Past Performance, section 6.3.1 requires submission of Contractor Performance Data Sheets

(CPDS). Does the Government suggest the use of a standard form, or should the offeror generate its own form/template for the submission?

**A11. Offerors shall develop their own sheet.

Q12. Volume II Past Performance does not suggest a page limit. Please clarify that this volume is or is not page limited.

**A12. Paragraph 6.3.6 is revised to read as, “Volume II shall be no more than twelve (12) pages.”

Q13. In paragraph 6.3.3, p. 128 the solicitation states “Offerors shall instruct the vendors to return the questionnaire directly to Mr. Woodrow Ball at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency Contracting Office.” We understand the use of the term “vendor” is directed at the Government Client. Please confirm.

**A13. 6.3.3 is changed

FROM: “A Past Performance Questionnaire is included in the solicitation package. Offerors shall send copies of the Past Performance Questionnaire to vendors. Offerors shall instruct the vendors to return the questionnaire directly to Mr. Woodrow Bell at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Contracting Office. Past Performance Questionnaires may be returned via email to woodrow.bell@dsca.mil or mailed or delivered to the addressed at paragraph 6.5.1 of this section.

Offerors are to inform the vendors the questionnaires are due 3:00 pm, EST on 20 August 2015.

OFFERORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMPTING VENDORS TO SUBMIT QUESTIONNAIRES,

ON TIME.”

TO: “A Past Performance Questionnaire is included in the solicitation package. Offerors shall send copies of the Past Performance Questionnaire to customers. Offerors shall instruct the customers to return the questionnaire directly to Mr. Woodrow Bell at the Defense Security Cooperation

Agency Contracting Office. Past Performance Questionnaires may be returned via email to woodrow.bell@dsca.mil or mailed or delivered to the addressed at paragraph 6.5.1 of this section.

Offerors are to inform the customers the questionnaires are due 3:00 pm, EST on 25 August 2015.

OFFERORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMPTING VENDORS TO SUBMIT QUESTIONNAIRES,

ON TIME.

Customers refers to the offerors clients for which the offeror is providing the information at 6.3.1 and

6.3.2. Due to the time of the posting of this response, the due date for the questionnaires is extended to

3:00 pm on 25 August 2015.

Q14. Paragraph 7.4.3, p. 134, states a rating of no less than “Somewhat Relevant” must be achieved for the Past

Performance Subfactors. Could the Government confirm the final list of Past Performance Subfactors?

**A14. Paragraph 7.4.3 is changed as follows: To receive consideration for award, a rating of no less than

“Somewhat Relevant” must be achieved for the Past Performance Subfactors.

Q15. To receive a rating of “Somewhat Relevant” and “Satisfactory Confidence” for Past Performance, we assume the Offeror is evaluated in the aggregate in order to allow offerors who may not have the entire scope, magnitude, and complexity of the requirement under one individual contract to still be considered acceptable if the experience with the full scope, magnitude, and complexity of the requirement can be demonstrated within the allotted number of past performances as described in para 6.3 of the solicitation. This allows for the Technical Approach to remain as the most important factor evaluated and not Past Performance. Please confirm this assumption.

**A15. A level of relevancy and confidence will be established based on the submitted information. All determinations will be supported.

Q16. Paragraph 6.4, p. 129, (Volume III: Price Proposal) and paragraph 7.5, p. 134, (FACTOR: Price) contain no specific guidance regarding supporting data and rationale for pricing, labor rates or cost build-up. Please confirm that no additional supporting information is required beyond that information specified in paragraphs 6.4 and 7.5.

mailto:woodrow.bell@dsca.mil mailto:woodrow.bell@dsca.mil

**A16. Due to the fact this is a competed action; no additional information is required, at this time. However if only one offer is received, additional information may be required.

Q17. Paragraph 1.3.1, p 68, states that “CORs shall be designated at the task order level”. Could the Government clarify if this is an IQC with multiple CORs?

**A17. Refer to A4.

Q18. Given the forthcoming annexes that were referenced but not originally included in the solicitation, would the

Government consider granting an extension?

**A18. No extension is given, at this time.

Q19. Could the Government state what the anticipated ceiling value for this proposed program is?

**A19. The Government will not be providing its cost estimate.

Q20. Paragraph 1.5.4, page 69, states that the “contractor must be able to provide an alternate worksite in the greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area”. Could the Government please clarify how close the offices should be to Ft. McNair and if they should be metro accessible.

**A20. Language was intended to apply to alternate duty locations to be used in case of government closure of bases and facilities. It has been discussed and language will be deleted from Paragraph 1.5.4.

Q21. Paragraph 5.11.3, page 89, states that “the Project Manager will assist the designated senior government representative in daily support”. Given that the Project Manager will be working on the program on a daily basis, would the Government consider an increase in the proposed hours for this position?

**A21. The Regional Centers feel the hours are enough.

Q22. Paragraph 5.12, page 89, has a list of transitional staff. Can the Government please clarify if these positions are currently staffed and that the Government is looking to re-badge these employees.

**A22. Refer to A6. In addition 5.12.1 and 5.12.2 is changed

FROM: 5.12.1. NESA Transition: NESA’s transition is expected to be a two week period of performance possibly requiring participation from the following-

1. Chief of Registration.

2. Senior Program Planner.

3. In-Country and Alumni Coordinator.

4. Academic Resources Coordinator.

5.12.2. ACSS Transition: ACSS’s transition is expected to be a one week period of performance possibly requiring participation from the following-

1. Administrative Support (2 positions)

2. Program Analyst French

3. Public Affairs & Ext Comm

4. Logistics Support

5. Program & Accounting Spt

6. Web Support & Website Mg

TO: 5.12.1. NESA Transition: NESA’s transition is expected to be a two week period of performance

1. Registrar/Manager

2. Registrar/Deputy

3. Senior Program Planner.

4. In-Country and Alumni Coordinator.

5. Academic Resources Coordinator.

5.12.2. ACSS Transition: ACSS’s transition is expected to be a one week period of performance

1. Administrative Support (2 positions)

2. Program Analyst French

3. Public Affairs & Ext Comm

4. Logistics Support

5. Program & Accounting Spt

6. Web Support & Website Mgr

Q23. Paragraph 5.12.5, page 89, states that one of the transitional staff positions is the Logistics Support position, could the Government clarify which is this exact proposed position as it is not listed in the solicitation.

**A23. There is no paragraph 5.12.5. However, refer to A22 to see how Logistics Support position was addressed.

Q24. Can the Government clarify the contradictions in paragraphs 1.5.4 and 5.22. Can the contractor bill emergency closure days under FFP CLINS?

**A24. Paragraph 5.22 is revised to read as follows:

Work Schedules: Unless alternate work schedules and/or telework are within the contractor’s policy and contractor employees performing on this contract have the approval of the designated COR for the task order on which the contractor employee is performing, said contractor employees will not be authorized the use of an alternate work schedule and/or telework. All tasks, functions and services must be performed onsite, unless otherwise stipulated as a function of program/event execution and/or government office closure. When contractor employees performing under Labor Hour type CLINs are not allowed access to the worksite due to emergency closures, the Government shall not be charged for the previously scheduled work hours, unless the contractor can show work was performed and the Government received a benefit. The contracting officer shall have the option of seeking remedies which permit the contractor to (a) reschedule the time lost due to base closure or (b) report to an alternate duty location.

When contractor employees that are performing under firm fixed price CLINs are not allowed access to the worksite due to emergency closures, the contractor may invoice for the agreed upon amount, unless deliveries and schedule are affected. Should deliverables and schedule be affected the contractor and contracting officer will have to engage in discussion/negotiations to resolve.

Q25. It has come to our attention that some current employees qualified as prospective candidates have been informed that they may not enter into employment with other prospective bidders. Please confirm that paragraph

6.2.3.a refers to non-exclusive engagement with prospective bidders to allow for best value to the Government.

**A25. Paragraph 6.2.3.a is so that offerors have proof of permission to propose personnel currently employed by an incumbent contractor. An agreement such as the one mentioned at Q25, would be between that employee and his/her employer. The qualifications in the solicitation are such that offerors need only propose personnel that meet the listed qualification.

Q26. Will the Government consider inserting applicable clause 52.207–3 Right of First Refusal of Employment?

***A26. At this time, it is not anticipated that award of the contract will result in a conversion from in-house performance to contract performance of work currently being performed by the Government

Q27. Can the Government please define “permanent” personnel?

**A27. The word permanent will be removed from 6.2.3.a. It was intended to refer to personnel working as a full time equivalent.

Q28. Can the Government provide an estimate/ timeline for when surge personnel will be needed; or how much advanced notice will the government provide prior to activating surge CLINs?

**A28. No timeline can be given. The Government will try to give at least seven (7) days notice.

Q29. Item No. 0017 does not have a quantity listed. Can the Government kindly clarify or provide a quantity?

**A29. CLIN 0017, like 1017 and 2017, is an informational CLIN. Quantities are at priced SubCLIN levels

0017AA and 0017AB.

Q30. Item No. 0026 seems to have a relatively low ceiling that would not allow for full time staff. Can the

Government kindly clarify the associated description in paragraph 5.3.10 is for publications of materials and not labor?

**A30. 0026 and its associated option period CLINs are for publications and materials.

Q31. Item No. 0031 does not provide an estimate. Can the Government kindly clarify or provide an estimate?

**A31. Refer to A29.

Q32. Item No. 0032 does not have a quantity listed. Can the Government kindly clarify or provide a quantity?

**A32. Refer to A29.

Q33. Considering the need for travel is unknown at this time, can the Government consider providing an estimate for travel in Item No. 0033? Without an estimate offerors estimates for this CLIN may vary considerably.

**A33. The chart at 6.4.1 identifies 0033, 1033 and 2033 as Cost Reimbursable type CLINS. Instructions in the chart and at Paragraph 6.4.3 state the amount will be pre-filled and there is nothing for offerors to enter. The pre-filled amounts did not print with the solicitation. They pre-filled amounts of $250,000.00, $257,500.00 and

$265,225.00 are added to CLINs 0033, 1033 and 2033, respectively.

Q34. 69of 135, 1.5.7.4 Academic Support: What do they mean by un-programmed events?

**A34. Un-programmed events are events that are not currently accounted for in the annual plans.

Q35. 73 of 135, 5.1.2 Performance Objective: Academic Support and facilitators must have a combination of academic degree (PhD or JD preferred)

**A35. It should be read as, “….the combination of academic degree, practical experience, and/or teaching experience in the required area of expertise.” PhD or JD states preference for the type of academic degree.

Combination does not refer to academic degree. *** “…a combination..” is changed to “…the combination…”

Q36. 86 of 135, 5.7.1 Deliverables:

a. When is the IPR due?

**A36.a. 7 working days at the completion of each quarter.

b. Do we provide an IPR for each center or just one for the 3 centers?

**A36.b. Provide IPRs for each Center based on the task order.

c. Could we have more detail about the Post event lessons learned/Suggested corrective actions?

**A36.c. The successful offeror shall be briefed on Post event lessons learned/Suggested corrective actions

d. What kind of budget statements would be required during this contract?

**A36.d. Budget statements will be briefed to the successful offeror.

Q37. 91 of 135, 5.22 Work Schedules: Does each center have a COR?

**A37. Refer to A4.

Q38. 1.3.1: Please provide clarification what this means: "CORs shall be designated at the task order level." Will there be multiple CORs? What is the expected amount of additional Task Orders.

**A38. Refer to A4.

Q39. 6.3.5: Please provide clarification of what is meant by: "excluded contract(s) at random"

**A39. 6.3.5 that existed at the time this question was submitted has been deleted and section re-numbered.

Q40. 6.3.3: Please provide clarification of what is intended by "Vendors" in this paragraph

**A40. Refer to A13.

Q41. Page 86; section 5.9.2. Contract personnel working in support of this contract will obtain and maintain a favorable FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check), two forms of identity proofed identification (I-9 document), and submit a National Agency Check and Law Credit (NACLAC) vetting package for processing. If at any time, any contractor person is unable to obtain/maintain an adjudicated NACLAC, the Government shall be notified immediately and the contractor person shall be immediately removed from work under this contract and the government site.

Question: As with the current ACSS contract, the Security Office (ACSS) processed all NACLC packages for its contractor personnel. Will the current process remain the same? If not, please identify the responsibilities/ role of the contractor vs.

**A41. Role of the contractor is to ensure all personnel proposed for employment meet security requirements through a background check. NACLC is processed through NDU security upon receiving information from the contractor.

Q42. Page 87; 5.9.4. Upon award of this contract, names and social security numbers (SSN) of contract employees working on this contract will be submitted to regional center security officer. If a contract member does not have the appropriate investigative or security clearance requirement the contract employee will be denied the ability to work in support of this PWS.

Question: Do ALL personnel on this contract require a completed NACLC investigation prior to start of the contract?

**A42. Role of the contractor is to ensure all personnel proposed for employment meet security requirements through a background check. NACLC is processed through NDU security upon receiving information from the contractor.

Q43. Page 83; 5.3.10-45.3.11 Program Support and Research Program (As required)

Question: Are there any specific qualifications required for these positions?

**A43. These are not positions. Qualifications are specified under Annex A under the program descriptions.

Q44. Page 128 of the RFP states that contractors should submit Past Performance Questionnaires to vendors. Please clarify as we are accustomed to submitting Past Performance Questionnaires to the COR.

**A44. Refer to A13.

Q45. What time is proposal due?. SF 1449 states 12:00 am on August 28 and paragraph 6.5.1 states 2:00 pm on

August 28.

**A45. Refer to A9.

Q46. Will there be multiple CORs; one per Center? paragraph 1.3.1 states that the contractor will respond to the designated COR.

**A46. Refer to A4.

Q47. Project Manager position is assigned 104 hours for the base year. Is that number correct? If 104 hours is correct, the PM will allocate 2 hours per week to executing responsibilities related to managing overall contract performance. Does the government expect that the PM can fulfill the supervisory responsibilities within that limited number of hours?

**A47 Refer to A21.