Q A_29_Jul_2013.doc

JOINT EXPEDITIONARY TEAM (JET) QUESTIONS

1. Reference: Section B, Schedule of Supply/Services, Pages 3-5. Question: Will the Government provide separate CLINs and “placeholder” values for all costs associated with OCONUS deployment (i.e. hazard, hardship, etc. as appropriate) and values for CONUS and OCONUS travel?

Response: Plug #’s for travel provided in the sample cost sheet.

2. Reference: Section B, Schedule of Supply/Services, Pages 3-5. Question: Will the government provide separate CLINs and “placeholder” values for CONUS and OCONUS Travel?

Response: Plug #’s for travel provided in the sample cost sheet.

3. Reference: Section B – Schedule of Supplies/Services, Pages 3-5, CLINs 0001, 1003, 1005, 2001, 2003 and 2005. Question: For deployed support services to other than Afghanistan, will the Government provide “placeholder” values? If not, can the Government provide estimates of the number of deployments, locations, durations and time frames to allow quantification of other deployment related costs (i.e. hardship, hazard, etc.).

Response: Plug #’s for travel provided in the sample cost sheet.

4. Reference: Section B – Schedule of Supplies/Service, Page 4, Item 1002 and Page 5, Item 2002 DBA Insurance, and PWS, Page 17, Defense Base Act (DBA) Insurance. Question: It appears CLIN Items 1002 and 2002 are tied specifically to work in Afghanistan. We request the Government identify specific CLINS to capture DBA for other OCONUS location and identify specific locations so DBA may be priced appropriately.

Response: Requirement is as stated.

5. Reference: PWS, Section 3.3.1, Page 7 states – “…ensure personnel detailed in paragraph 4.1 report to JIEDDO no later than 30 days from the date of the award, in order to begin the transition process with the incumbent.”Question: Is it correct to assume that the knowledge transfer process between the incumbent personnel and the winning contractor personnel will begin 30 days from the date of award?

Response: Transition period begins on employee arrival. The PWS states “no later than 30 days”.

6. Reference: PWS, Section 4.1.2, Page 8, Estimated Effort, Sum of Base Contract Optional Transition Support Afghanistan 6 months Time & Material. Question: Does the Government intend to show the total estimated hours to equal 20,160 instead of the current 21,120?

Response: Yes

7. Reference: PWS, Section 4.1.2, Page 9, Estimated Effort, Option Year II – Firm Fixed Price Other CCMD Support. Question: Does the Government intend to show the total estimated hours for the CONUS C-IED Training SME to equal 13,440 instead of the current 15,360? Similarly for the OCONUS C-IED Training SME equating to a new total of 26,880 versus 30,720?

Response: Yes

8. Reference: PWS 4.2.6 Senior JET C-IED Training SME and Program Manager, Page 11. Question: Are the Senior JET C-IED Training SME and Program Manager two separate positions? If so, request the government provide separate paragraphs for their qualifications. Also request the government provide hours for the Senior JET C-IED Training SME in the Base and Option Year tables on pages 8 – 10.

Response: Has been removed from the PWS.

9. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, paragraph (a), Page 20 reference to a SF 1449. Question: Please provide the SF 1449.

Response: 1449 can be accessed online at GSA website.

10. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, paragraph (b), Submission of Offers, Page 20. Question: We encourage the government to consider a 14-day extension to provide offerors adequate time to properly respond to the forth coming amendment and answers to questions.

Response: Extended through Aug 19, 2013.

11. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, Pages 20-21, Page limits. Question: May offerors assume that the cover page and table of contents are not counted against page count for all volumes?

Response: As stated in the requirement.

12. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, Pages 20-21, Page limits. Question: Are 11x17 foldouts permitted? If so, will they each count as 1 page?

Response: As stated in the requirement.

13. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, font size, Page 21. Question: Are tables and figures excluded from the 11-point Times New Roman font limitation? In addition, are non-serif font permitted for tables, figures, resumes, section headings, and footers?

Response: As stated in the requirement.

14. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, font size, Page 21 specifies a page limit of 6 pages for Past Performance, Volume Ib. Question: Request the Government increase the volume page limit to 7 pages to allow for an introduction.

Response: As stated in the requirement.

15. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, paragraph (b), Pricing Proposal, Volume 2, Pages 21- 22. Question: Are CONUS and OCONUS travel to be proposed as reimbursable costs to the government? If yes, will the government provide a placeholder value? If no, request the government provide the location, number, and duration of travel requirements.

Response: Plug #’s for travel provided in the sample cost sheet.

16. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, paragraph (b), Pricing Proposal, Volume 2, Page 22 lists subparagraphs (5) – (11) but does not include lists subparagraphs (1) – (4). Question: Request the Government provide subparagraphs (1) – (4) or renumber as applicable.

Response: See page 20 of the Solicitation.

17. Reference: Instructions to Offerors, paragraph (b), Pricing Proposal, Volume 2, Page 22 requires a sanitized version of the Pricing Template (no costs shown) to be included with the technical proposal. Question: Request this sanitized version of the pricing template be excluded from Vol 1a page count.

Response: Yes the pricing template is excluded from page count.

18. Reference: Evaluation—Commercial Items, Page 25. Delivery is specified as the second factor to evaluate offers. On Page 26, (B), the solicitation defines Management Approach will be evaluated. Question: Request the Government clarify how they intend to evaluate proposals.

Response: See changes on page 25

19. Reference: Solicitation HQ0682-13-R-0010. Question: Request the Government provide Contract Security Classification Specification, DD Form 254.

Response: Not until award

20. Reference: PWS, Section 13.0, Page 18 states – “A Trip Report (see Attachment A) will be submitted to the TPOC and COR within 3 days of completion of travel”. Question: Request the government provide Attachment A.

Response: Added as an attached doc to solicitation.

21. Reference: Attachment 2: Performance Requirements Summary (PRS), Pages 61-61 requests the contractor update the table proposing standards and performance thresholds for Perf. Objs. #4, 5 and 6. Question: Request the completed PRS not be counted against page count.

Response: Requirement is as stated.

22. Reference CLIN 0003, JET Services T&M, Optional Surge Support for Base period of 6 months, Pg-3. Question: Is it the government’s intention that the contractor include DBA within the T&M cost or will the government provide a separate CLIN to include DBA insurance? Reference for same, CLINS 1003, 1004, 1005, 2003, 2004, 2005.

Response: There is a single Cost CLIN for DBA Insurance for each contract period, (0002-1002-2002).

23. Reference 4.1.1 CONUS Counter IED Support, Pgs-8, 9, 10 and 11. Question: Sr. OPS SME position is not identified in solicitation but discussed as a key position.

Response: See response to question 8.

24. Reference paragraph 6.3.3 OCONUS. Pg-13. Question: Contractor is asking for guidance if an FTE is required to stay longer or asked to stay longer than one rotation, where can any R&R travel allowance be calculated as a benefit to the employee? Contractor understands that travel is cost reimbursable. Will the government please provide CLINS for travel? For the purposes of evaluation does the government require travel to be priced?

Response: See response to question 15 on travel cost/Rotations are never extended.

25. Reference Technical and Management Capabilities (Volume 1a) and Past Performance (Volume 1b). Pgs-20 and 21. Question: Contractor asks if Volume 1a and Volume 1b are requested as separate binders or separate volumes within one binder?

Response: Requirement is as stated.

26. Reference a sanitized version of the Pricing Template (no costs shown) should be included with the technical proposal. Pg-21. Question: The contractor is asking for guidance as to whether the sanitized Pricing Template will be counted against the 20-page limit?

Response: See response to question 17.

27. Additional materials. Question: The contactor is requesting guidance as to whether a cover letter and table of contents can be included and will be reviewed. If allowed, will the cover letter and table of contents count against the 20-page limit?

Response: As stated in the requirement.

28. Responsible Agency Reviewer. Question: The contractor would like to know if the JIEDDO or COIC KO will be reviewing the proposal?

Response: Proposals will be evaluated by Government Personnel in accordance with the Solicitation.

29. SF 1449. Question: Please advise if a SF 1449 will be provided and what the delivery address for the proposal binders should be. Is a soft copy required in addition to the hard copy binders?

Response: Proposals are to be submitted electronically.

30. Graphics Guidelines. Question: Please advise if we would be allowed to use a smaller font on graphics or if there are any limitations on foldout graphics?

Response: As stated in the requirement.

31. Reference: Section B, CLINs 0001 and 0003 and solicitation page 8, section 4.0, table of Estimated Effort. Issue: The narrative descriptions in CLINs 0001 and 0003 do not include a required number of FTEs, while the table of Estimated Effort starting on solicitation page 7 shows 15 FTEs for base support and 14 FTEs for “Optional Transition Support Afghanistan”. Option Year CLINs and the table of Estimated Effort include a total of 71 FTEs for the option years.

· Can the Government confirm that the 6 month base contract will only include a possible total 29 FTEs while the option years include a possible total of 71 FTEs?

· Will the government require a ramp up of FTEs during the base period?

· Can the Government confirm that CLIN 0003 which includes a narrative description that states “Optional Surge Support” corresponds to the “Optional Transition Support Afghanistan” section of the table of Estimated Effort?

Response: Requirement is as stated, but note that CLINs 0001 and 0003 are T&M, so the total number of estimated hours is the estimated ceiling. In the base year, the estimated FTEs for the option should not be presumed to be a flat level of effort necessarily. Yes the Optional Surge Support could correspond to the Optional Transition Support Afghanistan.

32. Reference: Solicitation page 8, section 4.0, table of Estimated Effort, “BASE CONTRACT – 6 months Time & Materials”, subsection 4.1.1 “CONUS Counter IED Support” and Page 11, Para 4.2.6 “Senior JET C-IED Training SME and Program Manager”. Issue: The table of Estimated Effort, subsection 4.1.1 establishes a line item for a “Senior Subject Matter Expert” but includes no number of FTEs or level of effort (hours) requirements. Paragraph 4.2.6 establishes the labor category qualifications for a “Senior JET C-IED Training SME” which is not included in the table of Estimated Effort.

· Can the government confirm the actual requirements for a “Senior Subject Matter Expert” in the Base Year, to include number of FTEs and level of effort for each?

· Can the government confirm that the “Senior Subject Matter Expert” in Para 4.1.1 is the same as the “Senior JET C-IED Training SME” identified in Para 4.2.6?

Response: Same as response to question #8.

33. Reference: Solicitation page 8, section 4.0 table of Estimated Effort, “BASE CONTRACT – Optional Transition Support Afghanistan”. Issue: The total hours for “BASE CONTRACT – Optional Transition Support Afghanistan” are listed as 21,120 but the additive value for all hours for all FTEs listed is actually 20,160.

· Please clarify the required FTEs, hours, and Total Estimated Hours for the optional Afghanistan transition support.

Response: Same as response to question #6.

34. Reference: Solicitation page 8, section 4.0 table of Estimated Effort. “BASE CONTRACT – 6 months Time & Materials”, subsection 4.1.1 “CONUS Counter IED Support”. Issue: The requirement for a “Senior Subject Matter Expert” does not appear in subsequent option years.

· Can the government provide the FTE and labor hour requirements for the Senior Subject Matter Expert(s) for Option Years 1 and 2 within the table of Estimated Effort?

Response: Same as response to question #8.

35. Reference: Solicitation page 10, section 4.0 table of Estimated Effort. Issue: The last section of the table of Estimated Effort states “Option Year I – Optional Surge Support – Time & Materials”

· Can the government confirm that this section of the table should read “Option Year II – Optional Surge Support – Time & Materials”?

Response: Yes

36. Reference: Solicitation page 21, Pricing Proposal (Volume 2). Issue: The government did not require a specific font or minimum font size.

· Can the government confirm that the font, size and pitch requirements for the pricing matrix are that it must be legible?

Response: Minimum font size is Times Roman 11 pt.

37. Reference: Section B, CLINs 1005 and 2005, and page 9, section 4.0 table of Estimated Effort. Issue: The narrative description of CLINs 1005 and 2005 states “Up to 15% of FFP Effort (08 FTEs CONUS or OCONUS)” while the table of estimated hours lists the LOE as 8 FTE CONUS and 8 FTE OCONUS.

· Please confirm that the correct level of effort is 16 FTE and that CLINs 1005 and 2005 will be corrected.

Response: Yes, see changed schedule B

38. Reference: Solicitation page 9, section 4.0 table of Estimated Effort, “Option Year II Firm Fixed Price Other CCMD Support”.

Issue: The Total Estimated Hours for the “CONUS JET C-IED Training SME” is listed as 15,360 while it has a listed requirement for 7 FTEs with 1,920 hours each which totals 13,440.

· Can the government confirm the correct level of effort is 7 FTE with 1,920 hours each for a total of 13,440?

Response: See response to question #7 above.

39. Reference: Solicitation page 9, section 4.0 table of Estimated Effort, “Option Year I Optional Support Firm Fixed Price Afghanistan Rotations”.

Issue: This option lists a Program Manager position with 1,920 hours. Those hours are not included within the Total Estimated Hours for this option.

· Can the government confirm the Program Manager position will have 1,920 hours for “Option Year I Optional Support Firm Fixed Price Afghanistan Rotations”?

Response: See corrected Section 4.0 Table.

40. Reference: Solicitation page 9, section 4.0 table of Estimated Effort, “Option Year II Firm Fixed Price Other CCMD Support”. Issue: This option lists a Program Manager position with 1,120 hours. Those hours are not included within the Total Estimated Hours for this option.

· Can the government confirm the Program Manager position will have 1,120 hours for “Option Year II Firm Fixed Price Other CCMD Support”?

· Can the government confirm there is a requirement for only one Program Manager throughout the life of the contract; base period and all options?

Response: See corrected Section 4.0 Table.

41. Reference: Solicitation page 25, FAR 52.212-12, Evaluation – Commercial Items (JAN 1999). Issue: As this solicitation was issued under FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, the government will be unable to obtain cost or pricing data or information other than cost or pricing data. The government will be unable to evaluate proposed prices for realism or reasonableness in accordance with the provisions of FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. FAR 52.212-2 (a)(D) states that the Government will only be permitted to evaluate prices for accuracy and conformance to the solicitation and for balanced option pricing.

· How will the government exclude “buy-in” from unrealistically low offers which may jeopardize the mission and the safety of JIEDDO personnel?

· How will the government evaluate the reasonableness of proposed prices without the benefit of the techniques included in FAR 15.404?

· How will the government make a determination that proposed prices are fair and reasonable for the services proposed?

Response: The government will evaluate pricing in accordance with the solicitation and FAR/DFARS regulations.

42. Reference: FAR Part 2, Definitions of Words and Terms. Issue: The definition of “Commercial Items” within FAR Part 2.101 includes “Services of a type offered and sold competitively in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace based on established catalog or market prices for specific tasks performed or specific outcomes to be achieved and under standard commercial terms and conditions.”

· As these highly specialized Counter IED services are not offered in any quantity in the commercial marketplace, how did the government determine that the services being solicited are “Commercial Items” in accordance with the definition above?

Response: The government considered in determining whether to compete under FAR Part 12 that similar services have been purchased off of GSA Schedule 84, SINs 246 and 426 and are within the scope of that schedule. GSA Schedules are defined as providing commercial items and services.

43. Reference: Section B CLINs 0002, 1002 and 2002 and PWS paragraph 13.0 “Defense Base Act Insurance”. Issue: Neither the referenced CLINs nor PWS identify the DBA insurance as a cost reimbursable item. The government has not provided a “plug number” for use in offeror’s proposals.

· How will the government evaluate the reasonableness of proposed values for DBA Insurance?

· How will the government ensure independently proposed values for DBA Insurance are accurate and complete given the unknown location and duration for all OCONUS and hazardous duty performance?

· Will the government consider providing a value for DBA Insurance to be used in all proposals?

Response: DBA insurance is a cost reimbursable item. See response to question #22. The government will evaluate proposed pricing IAW the RFP and applicable FAR/DFARS regulations.

44. Reference: Section B and PWS paragraph 13.0, TRAVEL. Issue: There are no cost reimbursable CLINs for Travel or other ODCs. PWS paragraph 13.0, TRAVEL, states “Location, number and destination of trips are unknown at this time.” The government has not provided a “plug number” for use in offeror’s proposals.

· How will the government evaluate the reasonableness of proposed values for travel or other ODCs?

· How will the government ensure independently proposed values for Travel or other ODCs are accurate and complete given the unknown location, number and destination of trips?

· Will the government consider providing a value for Travel and other ODCs to be used in all proposals?

Response: See response to question #15.

45. Reference: PWS paragraph 6.0 PERFORMANCE Issue: The solicitation does not provide a mechanism to accurately propose or account for Department of State hazardous duty or hardship differentials needed for the various OCONUS performance locations which will be support by the JET. PWS subparagraph 6.3.3 OCONUS, states “Deployed periods for the JET will vary in length.” PWS paragraph 13.0 TRAVEL, states “Location, number and destination of trips are unknown at this time.”

· As the differentials will vary based on the specific OCONUS performance location, does the government intend for these allowable differentials to be treated as cost reimbursable expenses?

· Will the government revise the solicitation to add an appropriate cost reimbursable CLIN to account for these differentials?

Response: Deployment periods for Afghanistan will be set at four months. See CLINS 0005, 1006, 2006. (See Schedule B edits).

46. Reference: Solicitation page 20, FAR 52.212-1, INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMECIAL ITEMS (FEB 2012). Issue: Paragraph (b) Submission of offers, does not include a delivery location for proposal submission.

· Will the government provide a specific location for the delivery of the proposal?

Response: Proposals are to be submitted “electronically”.

47. Reference: Solicitation page 20, FAR 52.212-1, INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS (FEB 2012). Issue: There is no mention of page size requirements and instructions for use of graphics.

· Will the government confirm that foldouts are allowed for graphics?

· May graphics and tables use fonts no smaller than 8 pt as long as they are legible?

Response: See changes to Solicitation instructions regarding page size. (8 1/2” X 11”). Otherwise requirements are as stated.

48. Reference: Solicitation page 20, FAR 52.212-1, INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS (FEB 2012). Issue: Paragraph (b) Submission of offers, states TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES (Volume 1a) is limited to 20 pages.

· Can the government confirm that Volume 1a, described on pages 20 and 21 includes a 20 page limit for the Technical Approach and a separate 20 page limit for the Management Approach?

Response: Requirements is as stated. Volume 1 a (Technical and Management Capabilities) has a 20 page limit.

49. Reference: Solicitation page 7, PWS paragraph 3.3 Transition Plan and page 20, FAR 52.212-1, INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS (FEB 2012), paragraph (b) Submission of offers, TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES (Volume 1a), (d) Transition-in and Transition-out plan. Issue: PWS paragraph 3.3 Transition Plan states “The Contractor is responsible…to ensure personnel…report to JIEDDO no later than 30 days from the date of award…”

· Given the requirement for 100% staffing no later than 30 days after award, we suggest the government revise the solicitation to include a separate Staffing Approach (Volume 1c).

· The Staffing Approach (Volume 1c) should have no page restrictions (other than limiting individual resumes to no more than two pages as previously required for Volume 1a) and require offerors to present resumes for all personnel who will be on the contract within 30 days of contract start.

· Requiring offerors to explain and validate their staffing plan, provide Key Resumes, and allow inclusion of Non-Key Resumes will allow offerors to justify and validate their staffing approach and their ability to meet the Reference requirements.

· An evaluated Staffing Approach (Volume 1c) will allow the government to effectively evaluate the programmatic, operational and reputational risk associated with each offerors’ Staffing Approach and to assess the quality of personnel each offeror is proposing to accomplish the requisite PWS tasks and staff the JET at start-up IAW the References

· Without a separate proposal volume for Staffing Approach, how will the government evaluate an offeror’s ability to meet the PWS requirement for 100% staffing NLT 30 days after award?

Response: Requirement is as stated.

50. Reference: FAR Part 16, Types of Contracts Issue: FAR 16.202-2, Application states “A firm-fixed-price contract is suitable for acquiring commercial items (see Parts 2 and 12) or for acquiring other supplies or services on the basis of reasonably definite functional or detailed specifications (see Part 11) when the contracting officer can establish fair and reasonable prices at the outset… (d) Performance uncertainties can be identified and reasonable estimates of their cost impact can be made...”

· Given the numerous performance uncertainties (optional FTEs, etc) and the inability of the government to project the definitive cost impacts of performance due to the unknown number, duration and location of potentially hazardous duty OCONUS work locations, we believe it would be more appropriate for this requirement to be performed on a Cost Reimbursable basis (CPFF, etc).

· Will the government consider revising the contract type for this solicitation?

Response: This requirement has been ongoing for more than six years so the requirement is reasonably defined. The CLINs are structured to pre-price possible known workload levels. Each year has an optional CLIN for unexpected workload priced on a T&M level.

51. Reference: 3.3 transition in plan, the Contractor is responsible for performing all tasks necessary to ensure personnel detailed in paragraph 4.1 report to JIEDDO no later than 30 days.

4.1 HOURS 3.1 Task and Deliverables.

Response: That is correct.

52. Can the Government provide the rationale for competing this effort under FAR Part 12 for commercial items and services versus FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation?

- We believe that the highly specified services required by the Government cannot be considered commercial per FAR 2.101.

Response: See response to question #42.

53. How are offerors supposed to account for Travel, ODCs and DBA Insurance premiums within the provided CLIN structure and B-Tables?

Response: response to questions #15 and 22.

54. Without specific location and duration of travel for the life of the contract, how should Offerors propose the appropriate Department of State Post Hardship and Hazardous Duty differentials?

- Should these allowable multipliers be included as a separate Cost Reimbursable line item?

Response: See response to question #45.

55. Who is the incumbent contractor for this effort?

Response: CACI-WEXFORD

56. How many FTE are currently providing this support? The solicitation is not clear on the actual number of FTEs being solicited.

Response: Currently 71 FTE’s are providing support in Afghanistan and other CCMD’s.

57. “The PWS states contractor needs to be running within 30 days. Under weapons training, it stated that personnel must complete weapons qualification 45 days prior to attending CRC. Please clarify if this requirement presents a timeline conflict?

Response: The requirement is as stated.