Attachment_01_Questions_and_Answers_26_Feb_16.pdf

Questions and Answers For

Solicitation HQ0013-16-R-0002 25 February 2016

Q1. 1.2.5.b. states: The QCP shall include all elements in the PWS and Performance Requirements Summary; to include a comprehensive and effective means to support the EUM program as it complies with the various CLINs specified in the PWS.

Please provide the Performance Requirements Summary or indicate where it can be found in the solicitation documents.

A1. The elements of the PWS and Performance Requirements Summary to which 1.2.5.b makes reference are found at Specific Task, Section 2.1 of the PWS. A separate Performance Requirements Summary document is attached with this modification.

Q2. Should pricing copies be redacted?

A2. Yes.

Q3. Please confirm that for task, 2.1.4 Application Maintenance and Enhancement that the programmers are complete FTEs.

A3. The percentage, at 2.1.4.c.iv, for Programmer was mistakenly entered as 100%. It shall be revised to read 8%, which is the estimated equivalent of 1 month of performance, since 100%, or 1 FTE is equivalent of 12 months.

Note, however, that Paragraph 1.4.6 of the section titled, “Instructions to Offerors”, states that the percentages are estimates of the Government and offerors are allowed to propose their own labor mix.

Q4. Is detailed cost and pricing information required? If so, what information is required?

A4. No.

Q5. Travel is being bid at $10,000 in accordance with the solicitation. Please confirm that in execution, G&A may be applied to travel as follows:

Travel is defined, under FAR 52.232-7(b)(1)(ii)(C), to be an Other Direct Cost.

In accordance with FAR 52.232-7(b)(2), The Contractor may include reasonable and allocable material handling costs in the charge for material to the extent they are clearly excluded from the hourly rate. Material handling costs are comprised of indirect costs, including, when appropriate, general and administrative expense allocated to direct materials in accordance with the Contractor's usual accounting practices consistent with Subpart 31.2 of the FAR.

A5. The title that accompanies FAR 52.232-7 is “Payment Under Time-and-Materials and Labor Hour Contracts.

There are no Time-and-Materials or Labor Hour type CLINs on this effort. Therefore, FAR 52.232-7 does not apply to this solicitation and is not included. When it comes to G&A being allowed on travel, it depends on what is negotiated in the contract. In HQ0013-16-R-0002, it is stated, “Travel costs shall have no fee, profit or G&A added.” All this said, this office will not be confirming the assumption that in execution, G&A may be applied to travel. Therefore, G&A may not be applied to travel. Note that FAR 52.243-3 Changes Time-and Material or Labor

Hours (SEP 2000) was included in the solicitation inadvertently and will be removed by way of modification.

Q6. In accordance with section 1.3.5, please define excluded content. If a firm submits three prime past performance samples, can any of them be excluded?

A6. 1.3.5 is intended to address the situation of more than three contracts being submitted for review. 1.3.5 will be revised to read as follows, “In the event more than three contracts are submitted by an offeror, the Government will choose the contract(s) to exclude at random, or in any manner that the Government, in their absolute discretion, deems appropriate, without any consideration for the best interests of the offeror. If a firm submits ONLY three past performance samples, none will be excluded.

Q7. Will you be providing possible locations for both CONUS and OCONUS travel, as the pricing would reflect much differently based on location?

A7. This office will not be providing locations in the solicitation. Paragraph 1.4.3 of the section titled, “Instructions to Offerors” states, “The amount will be pre-filled. There is nothing for offerors to enter.” $10,000.00 has been entered as the estimated cost, for SubCLINs 0005AA, 1005AA and 2005AA.

Q8. Is an extension beyond 4 March being considered for delivery of the proposal?

A8. The due date and time for submission of proposals is extended to 9 March 2016 no later than 3:00 pm EST.

Q9. Is this a follow-on requirement? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity? If not, is this a new requirement?

A9. This is a follow-on requirement. The number of the current contract is HQ0013-10-C-0005

Q10. Regarding the qualifications for each of the labor categories: it would be very difficult for anyone to qualify for this work that isn’t currently working the DSCA EUM program or at least working at DSCA. All of the qualifications are “minimum requirements” without any room for substitution in any area; education or experience and are written very specifically, as if only the incumbent would have any chance of meeting minimum requirements. Will there be any flexibility considered?

A10. The language is not meant to be restrictive. Any proposed personnel just have to have experience with similar tasks. The following revisions will be made to the solicitation.

5.6.a is changed from reading as-

Project Manager: Master’s Degree, Security+ CE (required for DoD system), high level experience with

Microsoft applications, minimum of an ADP-3 level of trust, minimum 10 years’ experience with each task identified in the PWS under CLINS 1-3, minimum 5 years’ experience with CLIN 4, Secret Clearance.

to reading as-

Project Manager: Master’s Degree, Security+ CE (required for DoD system), high level experience with

Microsoft applications, minimum of an ADP-2 level of trust, minimum 10 years’ experience with tasks similar to those identified in the PWS under CLINS 1-3 and minimum 5 years’ experience with tasks similar to those identified in the PWS under CLIN 4, Secret Clearance.

5.6.c is changed from reading as-

Data Analyst: Minimum 5 years’ experience with logistics practices and policies, minimum 5 years’ with Help

Desk experience, minimum familiarization course from Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management

(DISAM) course for awareness of Security Assistance Programs, Software Quality Assurance, and Secret

Clearance.

to reading as –

Analyst: Minimum 5 years’ experience with logistics practices and policies, minimum 5 years’ with Help Desk experience, minimum familiarization course from Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management

(DISAM) course for awareness of Security Assistance Programs, Software Quality Assurance, and Secret

Clearance.

5.7 is changed from reading as-

General skills required: Minimum five years’ experience directly related to Security Assistance programs (to manage the EUM Helpdesk), minimum five years’ experience with programs similar to the EUM program (to assist Security Cooperation Officer’s worldwide), five years’ experience with software programs similar to the

Security Cooperation Information Portal (to train users during EUM Regional Forum Training Seminars), knowledge and prior experience in planning, execution, and closing of projects (to manage new enhancements listed in CLIN 4). Must be able to manage and control periodic work and customized reports from CLIN 3 including: assisting in the preparation of collection of data requirements; development and scheduling/phasing;

change management; scope management; status tracking; communication and resolving multiple project issues.

to reading as-

General skills required: Minimum five years’ experience directly related to Security Assistance programs (to manage the EUM Helpdesk), minimum five years’ experience with programs similar to the EUM program (to assist Security Cooperation Officer’s worldwide), five years’ experience with software programs similar to the

Security Cooperation Information Portal (to train users during EUM Regional Forum Training Seminars), knowledge and five years’ prior experience in planning, execution, and closing of projects (to manage new enhancements listed in CLIN 4). Must be able to manage and control periodic work and customized reports from CLIN 3 including: assisting in the preparation of collection of data requirements; development and scheduling/phases; change management; scope management; status tracking; communication and resolving multiple project issues.