Intel_Questions_ _Answers_-_posted_Sep_03 _2015.pdf

Intelligence Draft RFP HQ0147-15-R-0016 Questions and Answers

9/3/2015 - 11:38 AM

# Subject Reference Question Answer 1 Transition Plan Section L-13.3 Transition Plan - What is MDA's timeline for the Transition Plan to include deadline for completing the transition?

Per PWS paragraph 9.0 Transition and Staffing - The transition will begin at the start of the Period of Performance for an estimated 15 work days. Staff to support all Performance Objectives are required NLT 15 work days after start of Period of Performance.

2 Transition Section L-13.3 Transition - Will the incumbent(s) be available to participate in executing the transition? While transition is a function involving the awardee and the Government, there can be value in the incumbent being available where non-proprietary information/records in the incumbent's possession would aid both the Government and the awardee in transition. Where all information of interest already resides in the Government's possession, then availability of the incumbent may not be of significant importance. At minimum, notice in the RFP by the Government as to whether or not the incumbent will be available to aid with transition ought to lead to better proposed transition plans.

Transition and staffing guidelines are specified in PWS paragraph 9.0 and L-13.3. It is anticipated that the incumbent will be available during the transition time frame.

3 Subcontractor definition Section L-1.2, L-14.1 Will MDA clarify their definition for "major subcontractor"? Major Subcontractor Definition - L-1.2 defines a major subcontractor as a sub that will perform "at least 10% of the proposed total price of the contract" (along with some other possible definitions) while L-14.1 defines a major subcontractor as a sub that will contribute "more than 10% of the hours". These two definitions are quite different. Variation in labor rates can result in a subcontractor who performs more than 10% of hours to actually perform less than 10% of the price of the contract. And, conversely, a subcontractor who performed more than 10% of the value of the contract can perform less than 10% of the hours.

Paragraph L-1.2 defines "Major Subcontractor" for all instances except cost and pricing. Whereas the definition for "Major Subcontractor" included in L-14.1 is specific to cost and pricing. Thus the differences in the definitions for "Major Subcontractor" facilitate the Government's evaluation for Cost / Price and all other instances not related to Cost/Price.

4 Watch Operations PWS 3.1 Intel Watch Operations - Is MDA requiring/expecting 5 contractor watchstanders at the IWC? If a different number, please clarify. The PWS refers to the contractor augmenting the current 5-person Government IWC team. It is unclear if this augmentation requirement is for a 1-to-1 ratio or other. Clarity in MDA's staffing level requirement will aid in ensuring proposals meet MDA needs.

No, the requirement is not a 1 to 1 ratio. The current 5 person Government IWC team is provided for informational purposes.

5 Watch Operations PWS 3.1 Intel Watch Operations - What labor categories does MDA require for IWC watchstanders? Clarity in MDA's requirement regarding labor categories (name and level) will aid in ensuring proposals meet MDA needs.

Labor categories used for these positions will depend on the offeror’s unique approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Work Statement.

6 Portal Mgmt PWS 3.2 Portal Management - How many Portal Site Managers does MDA require? Is there a preferred labor category? Clarity in MDA's requirement regarding labor categories (name, level, quantity) will aid in ensuring proposals meet MDA needs.

The Labor category used for this position will depend on the offeror’s unique approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Work Statement.

7 Portfolio Mgmt PWS 3.3 Portfolio Management - For which portfolios, of the 20 listed, does MDA require a portfolio manager?

What are the portfolio assignments/groupings for the portfolio managers - it seems that there are too many portfolios for each to warrant a separate portfolio manager? What are MDA's requirements for the geographic locations for portfolio managers, particularly in those cases where a portfolio manager may support geographically dispersed portfolios? How many portfolio managers does MDA require?

Currently, contractors support the following portfolios:

BC (HSV)

DI (MDA/HQ)

GM/GD (HSV)

IP (HSV)

TH/OSINT (HSV)

DT (HSV)

Special Project (HSV)

DEI (MDA/HQ)

AB (Dahlgren)

8 TechInt Support PWS 3.4 TechInt Support - How many TechInt Engineers are expected at the NCR and HSV locations? What are the labor category levels for each location? Clarity in MDA's requirement regarding labor categories (name, level, quantity) will aid in ensuring proposals meet MDA needs.

The labor categories and locations for the technical engineers will likely depend on the offeror’s unique approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Work Statement.

9 BMIC Support PWS 3.5 BMIC Support - What labor categories and how many of each does MDA require for NCR and HSV to support BMIC? Clarity in MDA's requirement regarding labor categories (name, level, quantity) will aid in ensuring proposals meet MDA needs.

The labor mix for these positions and locations will likely depend on the offeror’s unique approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Work Statement.

10 Requirements Management PWS 3.6 Requirements Management - What labor categories and how many of each does MDA require for Requirements Managers? Clarity in MDA's requirement regarding labor categories (name, level, quantity) will aid in ensuring proposals meet MDA needs.

The labor mix for these positions will likely depend on the offeror’s unique approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Work Statement.

11 Cyber Intelligence PWS 3.7 Cyber Intelligence - What labor categories and how many of each does MDA require for Cyber Intelligence support? Clarity in MDA's requirement regarding labor categories (name, level, quantity) will aid in ensuring proposals meet MDA needs.

The labor mix for these positions will likely depend on the offeror’s unique approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Work Statement.

12 SCIF Management PWS 3.8 SCIF Management - What labor categories and how many of each does MDA require for SCIF management at each location (HSV and NCR)? Clarity in MDA's requirement regarding labor categories (name, level, quantity) will aid in ensuring proposals meet MDA needs.

The labor mix for these positions and locations will likely depend on the offeror’s unique approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Work Statement.

13 KP Requirements PWS 10.1, L-12.2 KP Requirements. PWS lists KP requirements as the PM, Contract Technical Leads, and 4 Contract Functional Leads. Section L-12.2 states that KP requirements are the PM, Technical Lead, and SMEs.

Please clarify KP requirements, particularly clarifying the disparity between the PWS requirement for CTLs (plural) and Section L's requirement for a single CTL, and clarifying the requirement for Functional Leads as noted in the PWS and an unnumbered amount of SMEs as noted in Section L. (Perhaps "Functional Leads" and "SMEs" are one in the same? And still only 4 of them?)

The definition for "Key Personnel" is changed to read as follows: "Key personnel for this effort are the Contract Program Manager (CPM);

and if proposed, Technical Lead (TL), and Contractor Functional Leads (Current Intelligence Lead, Technical Intelligence Lead, Portfolio Management Lead, C4ISR Lead) and, if proposed, any Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)." This definition is now the same in the PWS and Sec L-12-2. Also note, the Key Personnel definition in the PWS is now located in paragraph 9.0 (not 10.1).

14 MOC Augmentation PWS 3.1 MOC Augmentation - Will the surge CLIN be used to cover the cost of the additional hours performed to augment the MOCs or will the Labor CLIN cover this? Clarity on this subject will ensure industry accurately prepares the pricing spreasheet for the price volume. Our experience includes cases where additional support may be charged as overtime to the same project code and CLIN as regular labor and where it may be charged to surge CLINS.

The Labor CLIN will be used for MOC support.

15 DD254 DD254 Supplement for 10.e(1), Para A.5.

Of the 23 SCI billets provided, as noted in the DD254 Supplement, how many are available for corporate-level? If all 23 SCI billets noted are required for direct-billed FTEs, will MDA provide one SCI billet to be used by a Corporate-level manager responsible for managing this contract/program?The RFP did not specify the number of FTEs MDA requires on the contract, so it is uncertain whether this reference to 23 SCI billets indicates that 23 FTEs are required on the contract or a smaller number with 1 or more of these SCI billets being available to corporate managers who will oversee this contract.

All contractor individuals shall require access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and shall require a Top Secret Personnel Clearance with SCI eligibility (had been formally indoctrinated for SCI within the last 24 months.) How the number of SCI billets is used will depend on the offeror’s unique approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Work Statement.

16 OCI Plan Section M-4.0, Factor F1: OCI Management Plan / Page 4

Please provide all referenced attachments to be addressed in the OCI Plan; e.g., a copy of "MDA OCI Manual 5013.78-M," which was not provided with the DRFP. "The team will evaluate how the offeror identifies, evaluates, and resolves actual and potential OCIs; the adequacy of its OCI training and oversight programs; the adequacy of its procedures for complying with MDA OCI Manual 5013.78-M, MDA Policy Memorandum No. 51, and TEAMS OCI Policy and OCI Clause (H-09) and the soundness of its processes to protect proprietary and nonpublic information from unauthorized disclosure."

The OCI Manual 5013.78-M will be provided in the bidders library, this incorporation will be with the final RFP release, and attachment J-12 is the TEAMS specific policy.

17 Small Business Volume Section L-4.4, Table L- 1 / Page 10;

L-9.1 / Page 14;

L-9.2 / Page 16

We request 10 pages per plan (total of 20 pages for the Small Business Volume) to be fully compliant with the requirements of FAR 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan and FAR 52.219-8, Small Business Participation Plan.

The increase of 10 pages is granted and will be incorporated at the final RFP release.

18 Org structure change history Section L-10.2 / Page

Typically Organizational Structure Change History is only requested for companies submitting past performance citations. Please confirm that this requirement only pertains to the Offeror and the teammates submitting past performance citations.

The Organizational Structure Change History should address all members and must be submitted regardless of prior past performance submissions.

19 Section L Section L Attachments General Question

Please provide copies of the Section L proposal forms that need to be completed by the offeror in Microsoft Word format.

It is easier to set-up the template and enter responses if the forms are provided in Word format. Section L includes the PPQ form, Consent Letter format, Client Authorization Letter format, OCI Disclosure form, etc.

The documents are PDF fillable.

20 Clause add suggestion Section I Contract Clauses

With potential for OCONUS performance, please add FAR 52.228-4 Worker's Compensation & War Hazard Insurance Overseas.

The Final RFP will include FAR clause 52.228-3 "Worker's Compensation Insurance (Defense Base Act) and FAR clause 52.228-4 "Worker's Compensation & War Hazard Insurance Overseas" by reference.

21 Font formatting for header and footer Section L-4.5 / Page 11 Generally header (e.g., solicitation title, volume name and number, solicitation number, and date of submission) and footer (e.g., disclosure statement) information are provided in 8 point Arial and 7 point Arial, respectively. Please confirm that this practice is acceptable for header and footer information.

No, 8 point Arial (header) and 7 point Arial (footer) is not acceptable. Please follow the instructions in Section L-4.5 which requires Times New Roman 12 point font.

22 Industry day Solicitation Notice, July 10, 2015

Does the Government intend to hold an Industry Day for TEAMS Intelligence? If so, please provide date, time, and location.

There is no Industry Day planned for TEAMS Intelligence.

23 Cost Section L-14.3 Cost Realism / Page 24

Given the staffing years of experience required for each labor category, the SCA fringe benefit cost of $4.02 per hour as the minimum acceptable to pass the cost realism threshold seems exceptionally low. Based on expected salaries, the $4.02/hour fringe minimum could result in a range of 6% - 12% fringe cost as a % of labor. In order to prevent aggressively low bidders from bidding unrealistic fringe cost rates, we recommend the government use a more appropriate benchmark that reflects a non-exempt professional workforce, which the SCA does not.

The Government does not anticipate using a different benchmark.

24 Client Authorization Letters Section L-10.7 Client Authorization Letters

Client Authorization Letters are required to be submitted for commercial contracts. In cases where the commercial contract is with a government prime contractor who is also a competitor for a TEAMS program award, will the Government waive the requirement for the Client Authorization Letter if we are able to provide alternate Points of Contact (POCs) in our past performance citations?

No, the Client Authorization Letter is executed between a company or entity submitting a Prime MDA TEAMS offer and their current or former commercial customer. For example company ABC is submitting a Prime MDA TEAMS offer. Company ABC formerly provided services to a government entity as a subcontractor to XYZ. Therefore, company ABC must execute a Client Authorization Letter with XYZ in order for MDA to communicate with company XYZ about company ABC’s current or former performance. However, an offeror may, in addition to the letters, submit alternate POCs.

25 PPQs Section L-10.4 Past Performance Questionnaire / Page 17;

Attachment L-02;

Section M-8.0, 3rd paragraph

The categories for performance evaluation in the Government-provided PPQ form (Attachment L-02) for TEAMS requests the same type of information that is evaluated in a CPAR. Some Government contracting organizations will not provide PPQ responses because they complete CPARs that are available in the PPIRS system. Given that the PPQ form requests the same type of information, and that Section M-8.0 indicates information obtained from the PPIRS system will be used for the evaluation, will the Government waive the requirement to obtain PPQs in cases where CPAR information is available in PPIRS?

The Government does not anticipate waiving the requirement.

26 Key personnel resumes Section L-12.2 Subfactor TS2:

Technical Staffing Approach / Page 20;

Attachment J-01 PWS, Paragraph 10.1 b / page

Section L instructions specify submission of resumes for three (3) positions: Technical Lead, Contract Program Manager and Subject Matter Experts. Attachment J-01 lists six positions as key personnel: Contract Program Manager, Contract Technical Lead, Current Intelligence Lead, Technical Intelligence Lead, Portfolio Management Lead, and C4ISR Lead.

Please confirm that the only resumes to be submitted are for the Technical Lead, Contract Program Manager and Subject Matter Experts; and that resumes are not required for the four functional leads (i.e., Current Intelligence Lead, Technical Intelligence Lead, Portfolio Management Lead, and C4ISR Lead)

The PWS and Section L-12.2 will be revised for the final RFP.

Resumes are required for all proposed key personnel and the key personnel for this effort are:

the Contract Program Manager (CPM); if proposed, the Technical Lead (TL); Contractor Functional Leads (Current Intelligence Lead, Technical Intelligence Lead, Portfolio Management Lead, C4ISR Lead); and, if proposed, any Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

27 Vol III Section L-4.2 / Page 9;

Section L-4.4 Table L- 1 / Page 9

Section L-4.2 states: "Volumes II, III, IV, and V may be combined… ." Table L-1 shows Volume III is reserved. Please confirm that Volume III is RESERVED.

In the Final RFP, Volume III Cybersecurity Risk Management Plan and the associated evaluation criteria will be removed. Volume III is listed as "RESERVED" to preserve the integrity of the numbering system and to allow flexibility should any new Volume be required.

28 L-07 Section L-14.3 Cost Realism / Page 24

Since the DRFP does not include EPW Attachment L-07, Prime Offerors and major subcontractors are unable to review and comment on the government's selection of labor categories provided in the Labor Category tab of the Excel Pricing Workbook. Please provide Attachment L-07 so that offerors may evaluate the selection of labor categories during the draft RFP phase.

Attachment L-07 will be provided as an attachment with the release of the draft RFP questions and answers and will be included as part of the final RFP package.

29 Portal Mgmt Attachment J-01 Performance Work Statement, paragraph

3.2 / Pages 10-11

The PWS addresses Portal Management, but the actual expectation and work is not fully explained. What are the Portal Management requirements?

Will the Government provide a description of the IT capabilities that a Portal Manager should possess?

The PWS has been updated to include the following examples of day-to-day duties:

Missile Intelligence Secure Link (MISL) Portal Administration:

1. Provide phone and email support to all internal MDA and external MISL users.

2. Create new content on request, such as new document libraries, new lists, new sub sites, or make changes to existing content.

3. Manage site user permissions for all areas of the site.

4. Report outages, timeouts or other malfunctioning parts of the site to MDA/ICTM.

Unclassified MDA Knowledge on Line (UMKO) and the Classified (SECRET) Knowledge Online (CMKO) Administration:

1. Provide phone and email support to MDA/DEI and EII users for the DEI and EII sub sites.

2. Create new content on request, such as new document libraries, new lists, new sub sites, or changes to existing content.

3. Manage site user permissions for all areas of the sites.

4. Report outages, timeouts or other malfunctioning parts of the site to DE Site Administrators.

5. Remove old data as necessary due to space limitations on the UMKO and CMKO.

6. Make changes in accordance with suggestions from the MKO Brown Bags and from the DE Site Administrators.

7. Requires MKO Site Manager Certification

Adept Database Administration:

1. Load all system data into the Adept database.

2. Enter all associated metadata for the system data in Adept.

3. Create custom Visual Basic scripts to automate processes related to checking Adept data.

30 IT Governance, Standards, Design, and Style Guidelines

PWS 3.2.a / Page 10 Will the government provide a copy of the MDA IT Governance Standards and Guidelines as well as a copy of the IT Design and Style Guidelines in the Bidders' Library?

Documents will be added to the Bidder’s Library.

31 VTC and Sharepoint knowledge PWS 3.8.k and 3.8.m /

None of the Intelligence Labor Competency descriptions include requirements in regard to being proficient in VTC management and SharePoint System management and maintenance. Both of these require unique certifications and training.

Will the government consider the addition of a Knowledge Management Labor Cat or will they provide the requisite training for the contractor to accomplish these tasks after award of the contract?

A specific labor category is not required for this capability. The Agency uses commercially available SharePoint and VTC software that have commercially available training courses and manuals. The Agency will not provide training specifically at the outset of contract award, although training may be offered to Government and contractors through normal training course procedures.

32 ODCs RFP Section B Please clarify your position with regard to ODCs. No ODCs are anticipated in the resulting contract.

33 Travel and ODCs PWS 8.c / Page 32 Per PWS para 8c, it appears that contractors may be required to deploy or travel OCONUS. Will any of this travel be to the CENTCOM AOR?

Will any travel be to hostile areas?

If so, will the government cover the costs of all requisite CENTCOM/COCOM pre-deployment training, preparation and equipment to include allowing cost for the various insurances through an ODC?

a. No travel to CENTCOM.

b. No travel to hostile areas.

34 SCIF Management PWS 3.8.f / Page 26 PWS para 3.8f: How many SCIFs are to be supported under this PWS requirement?

Please provide the locations of the SCIF(s).

See PWS paragraph 3.8. Description - There is one SCIF that is located in the basement of the Von Braun III. Additionally, paragraph 3.8(f) has been revised to change the word "SCIFs" (plural) to "SCIF" (singular).

35 Travel, plug number RFP Section B Will the Government provide a plug number for travel CLINS in the Final RFP? The plug numbers for travel are in L-14.4.

36 IT helpdesk support PWS para 3.2.b / Page

PWS para 3.2.b: None of the labor competency requirements address IT helpdesk support skill sets. Please identify the required certifications.

No specific certifications are required. Demonstrated experience with portals and websites are preferred, as are degrees in related fields.

37 Bidder's library Section L-2.10 Bidders' Library / Page 7

Please provide a list of the documents available in the Bidders' Documents Library. See Attachment L-11 for information on how to view the Unclassified/Classified Task Order Product Sample Library.

38 Percentages for soci-economic categories Section L-9.1 The percentages for the socio-economic categories are not provided, yet the Prime is required to meet 3 of the 5 categories to be evaluated as satisfactory. Recommend the government release the anticipated percentages, via an amendment to the DRFP, in order to assist potential offerors to complete teaming activities in anticipation of the final RFP release?

Subject to change in the Final RFP, the current SB Subcontracting Goals for Intelligence are as follows:

SB: 40%

VOSB: 3%

SDVOSB: 3%

HUBZone: 3%

SDB: 5%

WOSB: 5%

The SB Subcontracting Goals are a percentage of the total subcontracted value not the total contract value.

39 L-07 Attachment L-07 Attachment L-07 was not included in the DRFP. Do you anticipate releasing this prior to the final RFP to assist in offerors development of approaches and potential teaming?

Attachment L-07 will be provided as an attachment with the release of the draft RFP questions and answers and will be included as part of the final RFP package.

40 Incumbent/Current Effort Current Task Order Are there any incumbents currently providing this work or is it a new effort? If there are any incumbents could you please provide the contractor and associated contract number.

Yes there are incumbents currently providing this work. The incumbent is Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. and the Task Order # is HQ0147-10-D- 0011-0005.