Amendment_1__Response_to_Questions_-_Historian_Research_and_Writing_Support_Services_HQ0034-16-R-0222.pdf

AMENDMENT #1 Responses to Questions from Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Historian Research and Writing Support Services HQ0034-16-R-0222

Amendment #1 provides the following:

Responses to Questions Revised Performance Work Statement (PWS) dated July 08, 2016

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. I'm reaching out in reference to the requirement for WHS Historian Research and Writing Support Services under the solicitation number HQ0034-16-R-0222. Would you kindly confirm if this is an entirely new effort or is there an incumbent currently providing the services? If so, can you please provide the incumbent contract details?

Answer: This is a new requirement.

2. Who is the incumbent contractor?

Answer: Please see response to question 1 above.

3. What is the incumbent contract value and contract number?

Answer: Please see response to question 1 above.

4. May we receive POC info for the current incumbent historian?

Answer: Please see response to question 1 above.

5. Is this effort covered by the Service Contract Act (SCA)? If so, please provide the applicable DOL wage determination and FAR 52.222-42, "Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires" (applicable DOL Wage Determination labor category and $$)

Answer: The Service Contract Act (SCA) is not applicable to this requirement.

6. Do bidders need to have a TS facility clearance at time of bid or will the client sponsor the winning company for the TS? Note: A company facility clearance is required for the company to hold/maintain the personnel clearance.

Answer: Please see PWS Section 1.6.7 Security Requirements

7. I would like to inquire if there is an incumbent contractor? If so, what is the contract number and is the scope of work similar to the new solicitation?

Answer: Please see response to question 1 above.

8. Whether companies from Outside USA can apply for this? (like,from India or Canada)

Answer: No.

9. Whether we need to come over there for meetings?

Answer: Please see PWS 1.6.5 Place of Performance

10. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA?

(like, from India or Canada)

Answer: Please see PWS 1.6.5 Place of Performance

11. Can we submit the proposals via email?????

Answer: Please see the solicitation, Addendum to 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors- Commercial Items (Feb 2012)

12. Would you allow us to use three PPQs for all three instead of nine PPQ, so I don’t have to ask my CORs for multiple PPQs?

Answer: The same past performance references may be used for each proposal.

Questionnaires must be completed for each proposal.

13. 1.4 Scope: Will proposals be entertained that have a different structure from the already published volumes in the series, or will OSD impose a rigid chapter outline on the study manuscript?

Answer: Please see the solicitation and respond accordingly.

14. 1.5 Period of Performance: The solicitation calls for 1 September 2016 as start date for contract. Is there a possibility of starting on 1 January 2017 when one member of this historian team becomes available? Alternatively, could one member of the research and writing team start on 1 September and the second member start as a subcontractor on 1 January?

Answer: Please review the solicitation and respond accordingly.

15. 1.6.5 Place of Performance: What percentage of the research and writing for this history will require on-site work at the OSD History Office versus contractor sites and research archives at other locations? Is contractor expected to have staff on site at OSD throughout work week?

Answer: Please see the solicitation and respond accordingly.

16. 1.6.7 Security Requirements: The solicitation requires access to classified material for the writing of this history. Is OSD History Office able to hold clearances for two historians working on this project? There is no capability for this small partnership to hold clearances.

Answer: Please see the PWS 1.6.7 Security Requirements.

17. 1.6.11 Key Personnel: Is it acceptable for one historian to serve as the prime contractor and a second as a subcontractor?

Answer: Please review the solicitation and respond accordingly.

18. 1.6.13 Contractor Travel: The solicitation only recognizes the need to travel for research purposes in the National Capital Region (NCR). We envision research trips to other locations— e.g. presidential libraries, service repositories, major command history offices—as necessary for this project. May we include cost estimates for such travel in our proposal, or are they categorically disallowed?

Answer: Please see the solicitation and respond accordingly.

19. 1.6.15 Data Rights: It is our intention that all materials collected in the conduct of this research project will become a part of the permanent holdings of the OSD History Office upon completion of the project, but not before then. Is this acceptable?

Answer: Please see PWS 1.6.15 Data Rights.

20. 4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: We will need to purchase some equipment to complete this project, e.g. laptops, scanners, recording devices. Our intention is to include this in the estimate for the project. Is that acceptable?

Answer: Please see the solicitation and revised PWS dated July 08, 2016, Part 3 Government Furnished Property, Equipment, and Services.

21. 5.1 Basic Services: The five year project (base year and four option years) should yield a publishable book manuscript. Does the five year period include internal DoD review, bookmaking, and a published work or only a manuscript ready for review?

Answer: Please see the PWS and respond accordingly.

22. 5.2.7 The Contractor shall assist the Historical Office with special projects and reference requests: Has the workload for reference requests, etc., actually equaled as much as 100 hours per year (2.5 weeks) on previous projects? There is concern that the contractor might be distracted from the core mission with work more effectively handled by in-house staff. What assurances are there that this will not be the case?

Answer: Please see the solicitation and respond accordingly.

23. 6.1.1 OSD Historical Office Style Guide: Where may we obtain this style guide?

Answer: This is provided after contract award.

24. TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 2, DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE: This exhibit only deals with base year of contract. May we assume that the schedule of deliverables will be similar for the option years? In all likelihood there will have to be some modification over time for the deliverables required. What will be the process for defining any modifications?

Answer: The option years will be similar to the base year.

25. TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 3, ESTIMATED WORKLOAD DATA: The proposal will offer each of us working on the project approximately 1,000 hours per year. This adds up to one full time historian, but it will be a jointly researched and written book. Is this an acceptable approach?

Answer: Please see the solicitation and respond accordingly.

26. One historian, has done several contract histories for NASA and will ask the NASA Chief Historian to provide a statement on past performance. The other historian working on this project, has never done contract work in the past and cannot provide such a statement. Is there some other way in which their capabilities may be assessed?

Answer: Please see the solicitation, FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items (Oct 2014), Item b. Factor II: Past Performance.

27. PWS 1.6.2 Quality Assurance – Will the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) be provided by the Government at time of award?

Answer: No, the QASP is provided after award.

28. PWS 1.6.5 Place of Performance and 3.2 Government Furnished Items and Services – Although the Government will provide the space and necessary equipment, will the Historian/Author be allowed to work from home or the Contractor’s location at any time during the performance period?

Answer: Please see the PWS 1.6.5 Place of Performance.

29. PWS 1.6.8 Special Qualifications – Please identify which Information Assurance certifications are applicable and required.

Answer: Please see the solicitation and respond accordingly.

30. PWS 1.6.7 Security Requirements – Please confirm that the WHS/AD will sponsor the successful offeror for the required DoD Top Secret facility clearance.

Answer: Please see the PWS 1.6.7 Security Requirements

31. PWS 1.4 Scope – Will the Government provide a list of the desired interviews, libraries and repositories for the Historian at time of award?

Answer: No, please see the solicitation and respond accordingly.

32. PWS 1.6.13 Contractor Travel – Please confirm that all interviews, libraries and repositories are to be located in the NCR area.

Answer: Please see the solicitation and respond accordingly.

33. Please advise if there are any incumbent personnel working on this project prior to release of the solicitation, and if so, please identify the incumbent personnel.

Answer: Please see response to question 1 above.

34. Does the History of Acquisition book that you’re looking to contract out have to be written by a Washington DC resident? I’m currently abroad, so I was wondering if I’d be eligible.

Answer: Please see the PWS 1.6.5 Place of Performance.