Q&A_Dtd_20171222.pdf

SOLICITATION Q&A

HQ0013-18-R-0002

1. Is this a new requirement? If not, can the Government provide the contractor and contract number?

Answer: This is a new requirement.

2. The Solicitation states the "Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS," however, the PWS does not specify the key personnel. Can the Government clarify if they have pre-selected categories in which are designated key personnel or if it’s up to the Contractor to specify these labor categories positions?

Answer: All are key personnel as specified in paragraph 1.6.4.

3. Would the Government consider removing the requirement that all staff are key? This would allow for more competitive strategies to provide a better value to the Government. Additionally, can the Government provide the conditions (if any) for Key personnel removal, replacement, and initial duration of service?

Answer: No. Prior to substituting, removing, replacing, or diverting any of the specified individuals, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer 15 working days in advance and shall submit a written request and justification (including proposed substitutions) in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the impact on this Contract. The proposed substitution of personnel must meet or exceed the education, experience, and other technical requirements of the personnel being replaced. No change in personnel shall be made by the Contractor without the prior written consent of the Contracting Officer.

4. Concerning Joint Ventures does the Joint Venture arrangement itself have to be certified by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or is it sufficient that both SDVOSB are certified individually by the VA. I am asking because VA is experiencing a high volume of backlogs with certification approvals.

Answer: Offerors should review FAR Part 19.101 (7) and 19.1403 (c) for joint venture arrangement consideration.

5. What is the Process Improvement Analyst’s role? What PWS paragraphs (PWS 5.1.1through 5.1.3) would be assigned to the Process Improvement Analyst position? The experience and certification levels described in PWS 1.5.4.3 appear to support an acquisition support specialist role yet there is no mention of process improvement experience or certification requirements. Is Mid-Level Acquisition Support Specialist a better title for this labor category?

Answer: The Internal Control Specialist (previously Process Improvement Analyst) shall perform tasks as stated in PWS 5.1.2.

6. Paragraph 1.4.7 lists the place of performance as DSCA, Arlington, VA. Please confirm the specific location – is it 201 12th St South?

Answer:

Crystal Gateway North (CGN) 201 12th Street South Arlington, VA 22202-5408

7. Will parking at the facility be government-furnished?

Answer: No.

8. Would the Government consider proposal/quote submission from Offerors with a Facility Clearance determination currently in process? Given that the Government is willing to consider past performance from Offerors that are newly formed entities, the expansion of the Facility Clearance requirement to those Offerors with an in-process (but not yet active clearance) would allow for additional competition.

Answer: No, as specified in paragraph 5.5.1, the Contractor is required to have an active Secret level Facility Clearance at the time of quote/proposal submission. DSCA will only consider proposal/quote submission from Offerors with an active Secret Facility Clearance at the date/time the offer is due.

9. Will the government consider accepting electronic proposal submissions via email in lieu of hard copy delivery?

Answer: Offerors shall submit both hard copy in accordance with the solicitation and electronic email to dsca.ncr.dbo.mbx.cons@mail.mil.

10. For this particular requirement does an FTE equate 1920 or 1880 hours.

Answer: For the purposes of a full time equivalent, 1880 is the standard used.

11. Pricing – Labor Hours - FTEs Please clarify should we use 1920 hours to calculate full time equivalents (FTEs). It is not specified in the solicitation or on the pricing sheet.

Answer: For the purposes of a full time equivalent, 1880 is the standard used.

12. Would the government consider removing or wavering the facility clearance as stated in the Performance Work Statement paragraph 1.5.7 Security Requirements?

Answer: No, the Facility Clearance is required as stated in PWS 5.5.1

13. Can a Prime use their Subcontractor's Secret Facility Clearance for this requirement?

Answer: No, as specified in paragraph 5.5.1, the Contractor is required to have an active Secret level Facility Clearance at the time of quote/proposal submission. DSCA will only consider proposal/quote submission from an Offeror with an active Secret Facility Clearance at the date/time the offer is due.

14. Is this contract applicable to the SCA?

Answer: No, the requirement has been determined “Professional Services” so a wage determination is not applicable.

15. Is double-spaced or single-spaced text acceptable?

Answer: Yes

Question 2. – Page 47 - 52.222-46 EVALUATION OF COMPENSATION FOR PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES (FEB 1993) – requires offerors submit a total compensation plan setting forth salaries and fringe benefits. In which Volume does the government want this information?

Answer: Include in Volume III – Pricing.

16. Is Teleworking an option?

Answer: Telework may be allowed by the Contracting Officer ONLY during emergency weather or Government emergency closures if there is a need and sufficient workload exists that allows for a telework option by contractor employees and prior coordination with corporate management staff has been accomplished.

17. Paragraph 1.5.4.2 requires an Acquisition Support Specialist with a DAWIA or FAC-C Level 1 contracting certification. In the market for acquisition professionals, it is rare to find a Level 1 Contracting Certified professional that is not also Level 2 or 3 certified, negatively impacting DSCA’s ability to obtain the lowest technically acceptable price. For the Acquisition Support Specialist ONLY, would DSCA consider accepting DAWIA or FAC-C Level 1 contracting TRAINING instead of

CERTIFICATION? Would DSCA consider accepting NCMA, Management Concepts, or other professional contracting training? Would DSCA consider accepting NCMA Certified Professional Contracts Managers or Certified Federal Contracts Managers (CPCM/CFCM)?

Answer: See revised PWS, this requirement has been removed. All personnel must be DAWIA or FAC-C Level 3.

18. Given the restrictive nature of specifying 5-years of employment with the Department of Defense, would the Government consider removing this requirement or providing equivalent criteria to support procurement objectives?

Answer: No

19. Would the Government consider FAC-C Level III or DAWIA Contracting Level III certifications and equivalent as special qualifications for the Senior Acquisition SME positions? Due to this requirement being restrictive and the fact that there are other ways to obtain this expertise.

Answer: No

20. Given that this is a professional services requirement, will the government consider soliciting and evaluating this requirement as a Best Value opportunity in an effort to increase competition?

Answer: No, the source selection methodology will remain LPTA.

21. Special qualifications for all labor categories require employment or acquisition experience specifically with the Department of Defense. However, past performance is open to include any Federal, state, or local Government experience. Would the government consider opening special qualifications to include any Federal, state, or local government experience instead of limiting it to just DoD, thus limiting competition.

Answer: No

22. Will the government be willing to reallocate pages from the Volume II – Factor 2 Past Performance to Volume I Factor 1 Relevant Technical Experience? We recommend 20 pages for Volume 1 and 10 pages for Volume II.

Answer: The Volume I page limit is increased by 10 to 25 pages.

23. In Section 1.5.4.1, is states "The positions require personnel with written certificate evidence of either FAC-C level III or DAWIA Contracting Level III certification while employed by the Government or Industry." Does the certificate need to be included in the proposal? What about certificate information regarding the two other positions?

Answer: Yes, written evidence in the form of the actual certificate shall be included for all personnel for certification and evaluation purposes.

24. On the 1449 you are asking for monthly labor rates pricing and on the pricing sheet you are asking for hourly labor rates pricing. Please clarify this is the correct format for each.

Answer: The contract type is Firm-Fixed-Price. The pricing sheet showing labor categories, labor rate, labor hours is only for informational cost break-down purposes.

25. What is the contract ceiling for this RFQ?

Answer: Does not apply. The contract is Firm-Fixed-Price.

26. Will the Government consider a direct award through the 8(a) Program?

Answer: All FAR Part 19 small business programs to include various set-asides were considered. The solicitation will remain a SDVOSB Set-aside.

27. PWS 1.1, states "Additional tasks will be within scope, and of a similar nature, complexity, and skill level." What example of additional tasks does the government contemplate?

Answer: Reference revised PWS.

28. Is the QCP in addition to the three volumes required?

Answer: The offer shall submit the QCP in Volume I.

29. Why does the Process Improvement Analyst require a level one contracting certification and contracting experience?

Answer: Reference revised PWS.

30. For tables and visuals (e.g., diagrams, charts, graphs) we request the Government allow for a nine (9) point font vice the 11 point font.

Answer: No Change - Offerors shall use not smaller than 11 point font size.

31. Does the Government require letters of intent or letters of commitment from proposed staff who are not yet employed by the offeror or its subcontractors? If so, we request that these letters be excluded from the Volume I page count.

Answer: Letters of intent/Commitment are required and excluded from the page count in Volume I.

32. For Volume II Past Performance the RFQ requires a Past Performance Reference Summary Sheet immediately following the cover page. We request the Government exclude this sheet from the Volume II page count.

Answer: The Past Performance Reference Summary Sheet will be excluded from the page count.

33. Would the Government please clarify the due date and time for the proposal? The SF1449 indicates delivery by 1400hrs while page 11 of the RFQ states that proposals will be accepted until 1600hrs.

Answer: Solicitation due is extended to 4 January 2018 2:00pm EST

34. Can you share why this is LPTA, we understand this work requires subject matter experts, certifications and clearances? We are confident that we can provide qualified candidates that support the SOW. However, I don't know if we can be competitive if it's LPTA. Would DSCA consider changing the LPTA acquisition strategy to Best Value?

Answer: The source selection process will remain LPTA.