A23 RFP Amendment HQ084720R0007-0002.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30-105-04EXCEPTION TO SF 30

APPROVED BY OIRM 11-84

STANDARD FORM 30 (Rev. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

The purpose of this amendment is to provide Government responses to additional Offeror questions received concerning this requirement.

There are changes to tw o (2) attachment to the solicitation as a result of Government responses to the questions received, but these changes do not result in signif icant changes to requirements. Further, the proposal period for this solicitation is 37 calendar days.

Therefore, the offer due date and time has not changed as a result of this amendment. See continuation page.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

J 1 9

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

BY 23-Jun-2020

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA15C. DATE SIGNED15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of Contracting Officer)(Signature of person authorized to sign)

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., Street, County, State and Zip Code) X HQ084720R0007

X 9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

04-Jun-2020

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offer is extended, X is not extended.

Offer must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN

REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE

CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(B).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

10A. MOD. OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO.(If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

23-Jun-2020

CODE

GCMC

ACQ DIRECTORATE - GERMANY OFFICE, GERNACKERST

EB 112, 82467 GARMISCH DE, 82467 GARMISCH DE

GARMISCH 82467

HQ0847 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than item 6)

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.

CODE

See Item 6

FACILITY CODECODE

EMAIL:TEL:

HQ084720R0007

SECTION SF 30 BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

SECTION SF 30 - BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

The following have been modified:

OFFEROR Q&A

HQ084720R0007 - Questions and Government Responses

No. Reference Question

Category Question Answer

Amendment 0001

1 Solicitation

(general)

Admin - New or

Follow-on requirement

Is this a new requirement or a follow-on requirement, and if it is follow-on, what is the name of the incumbent?

This is a follow-on requirement to a

Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) awarded on 12 December 2019 for a one year Period of Performance

(PoP). The incumbent contractor is

Culmen International LLC, CAGE

33PP4, DUNS 169422743.

2 Solicitation

Section F, Deliveries or

Performance

Admin/Technical

- Period of

Performance start

Is this a follow-on to the current MSA Levantine/

Moroccan contract or a new requirement for additional courses/ instructors? The current POP ends in December

2020 and this one has a PoP beginning 01 November 2020.

This is a follow-on to the current

BPA, and not an additional requirement. While the ordering periods overlap, the next Language

Enhancement Course start date is after the current BPA ordering period expires.

3 Solicitation

(general)

Admin - Set

Aside?

Is this requirement set-aside for Small Business?

No. Performance takes place in

Germany. In accordance with FAR

19.000(b), with the exception of the

Small Business Administration

Certificates of Competency and

Determinations of Responsibility, Small Business programs do not apply outside the United States or its outlying areas.

Amendment 0002

4 Attachment 5, Pricing &

Attachment 1, PWS

Technical &

Pricing

Column C in the pricing spreadsheet shows "7" under

Estimated Quantities of courses. However, PWS 5.1 states that up to two courses may be taught concurrently.

Please clarify how many 5-week courses may be taught simultaneously.

The Government historically schedules seven (7) blocks of 5-week courses per year. Currently, the Government requires two (2) 5-week courses to be taught concurrently either as: 2x MSA; 1

MSA + 1 Levantine; 1 MSA + 1

Moroccan; or 1 Levantine + 1

Moroccan. With courses being held concurrently, the Government estimates 14 courses per year for this requirement.

Question

Category Question Answer

5 Attachment 8, Past

Performance

Questionnaire

Past Performance

Questionnaire

The Past Performance

Questionnaire (PPQ) states that the due date for submitting the PPW is March

29, 2019. Please issue a revised PPQ that has a correct due date.

PPQ has been updated. Completed

PPQ due date/time is the same as the overall Solicitation and is stated in the Solicitation Standard Form

1449 Block 8.

6 Attachment 6, Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements /

Resumes

Should the Offeror submit resumes using the Attachment

6 template, or are resumes required in addition to the completed Attachment 6?

Yes, resumes/CVs are required in addition to Attachment 6.

7 Attachment 6, Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

Please clarify/confirm if

"MSA with Moroccan

Dialect" is the same as the

Darija language spoken in

Morocco.

Yes, Dariya Arabic is the Maghrebi

Arabic version spoken in Morocco.

8 Attachment 6, Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

Please clarify/confirm if

"MSA with Levantine Dialect" includes the Syrian

Damascene dialect.

Yes, Damascene is a variety of

North Levantine Arabic.

9 Attachment 6, Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

Please clarify that "Arabic

Levantine" is defined as being spoken as a first language in

Syria, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE and

Çukurova, Turkey.

Levantine dialect is spoken in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. The dialect spoken in Çukurova, Turkey, is North Mesopotamian. The dialect spoken in UAE is Gulf Dialect.

10 PWS 5.6.3.1 -

5.6.3.6

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

Given that many institutions are closed due to COVID-19, will the government allow

Offerors to submit the documentation required by

PWS 5.6.3.1 - 5.6.3.6 after award, instead of with the

Offeror's proposal?

No. The documents are required with the Offeror’s proposal as stated in the RFP. These documents will be utilized to determine award selection based on the criteria stated.

11 Attachment 6, Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

& PWS 5.6.3.1

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

The Key Personnel requirements state that the candidates "shall be fluent in the MSA with Levantine dialect & MSA with

Moroccan dialect, as spoken in the Levant and Morocco, with the ability to read, write, and speak at a level consistent with a person indigenous to the region. Documentation of target languages (TL) proficiency shall consist of evidence that the proposed instructor is a native speaker or that the proposed instructor obtained TL proficiency through formal education

The required documentation is stated: formal education in the TL or proficiency certification. This documentation is required at proposal. If passport or birth certificate information is provided, the Government will review the place of birth to determine if it is in the target-culture region. If the

Offeror’s proposed instructor left the birth country before completing post-secondary education, then the

Offeror shall substantiate fluency, either by the listed required documentation, or any other documentation. Further, as stated in

PWS paragraph 5.6.3.1., the

Government, at its own expense, Category Question Answer cont’d

(courses completed at an institution of higher learning taught in the TL), or TL-proficiency certification

(Interagency Language

Roundtable/STANAG 6001

Level 4 or Common European

Framework of Reference

Level C2)." Please specify what evidence must be provided to substantiate that the candidate is a native speaker (i.e., birth certificate?

Passport?). Please also state if this documentation must be provided with the proposal.

reserves the right to test any individual for language proficiency.

12 Attachment 6, Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

& PWS 5.6.3.1

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

The Key Personnel requirements state that the candidates "shall be fluent in the MSA with Levantine dialect & MSA with

Moroccan dialect, as spoken in the Levant and Morocco, with the ability to read, write, and speak at a level consistent with a person indigenous to the region. Documentation of target languages (TL) proficiency shall consist of evidence that the proposed instructor is a native speaker or that the proposed instructor obtained TL proficiency through formal education

(courses completed at an institution of higher learning taught in the TL)." Regarding the requirement shown in bold italics, is there a minimum number of years and/or minimum number of courses that the candidate must have completed at an institution of higher learning in order to meet this requirement? Please also state if this documentation must be provided with the proposal.

While there is no stated minimum, the intent of the requirement is that the Offeror’s proposed instructor was a full-time student enrolled in a program of study offered to mainstream students at the target-culture, at an institute of higher learning. Therefore, as an example, a summer-abroad program would not satisfy this requirement.

Category Question Answer

13 Attachment 6, Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

& PWS 5.6.3.2

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

PWS 5.6.3.2 states that "The contractor personnel shall have a working knowledge of

English sufficient for conducting course development and research in the English language. The

Contractor shall provide evidence of the proposed instructor’s proficiency of

English either: as a native speaker; through formal education (courses completed at an institution of higher learning taught in English – course materials, reading assignments, papers, and presentations in English); by

English-language proficiency certification (Interagency

Language Roundtable/

STANAG 6001 Level 2 or

Common European

Framework of Reference

Level B2); or with documentation of English-language use in a work environment where English was the primary means of communication." Regarding the requirement shown in bold italics, is there a minimum number of years and/or minimum number of courses that the candidate must have completed at an institution of higher learning in order to meet this requirement? Please also state if this documentation must be provided with the proposal.

While there is no stated minimum number of years or courses, as stated in the opening sentence of the quoted PWS paragraph (5.6.3.2.) the intent is for the candidate to have a working-/functional-level of

English-language proficiency in order to conduct course development and research in

English. Therefore, the listed documents are required to provide evidence of English proficiency, and these are required at proposal.

Further, as stated in PWS paragraph

5.6.3.2., the Government, at its own expense, reserves the right to test any individual for language proficiency.

14 Attachment 6, Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

& PWS 5.6.3.3

Personnel

Qualification

Requirements

PWS 5.6.3.3. states that

"Contractor personnel shall have an adequate educational background in foreign-language pedagogy to provide advanced language training to adult learners. Teaching credentials (in diminishing relevance) include a

Bachelor’s degree or higher

(MA or PhD is highly desired) in: Teaching Arabic as a

A degree in teaching Arabic is acceptable. Teaching Arabic as a

Foreign Language is the most likely degree offered at Arabic-medium universities. It's improbable that anyone would have an advanced degree specifically in teaching

Moroccan or Levantine dialect.

Category Question Answer cont’d

Foreign Language; Foreign

Language Education;

Teaching English as a

Second/Foreign Language

(ESL/EFL);

Linguistics/Philology of the

TL country;

History/Literature/Anthropolo gy/Education (related to the

TL country); or Educational

Psychology/International

Relations. For purposes of evaluation, “TL Country” is a country where the TL is the primary means of communication within and among government, industry, academia, and the local population." Please clarify if the "Teaching Arabic as a

Foreign Language" degree requirement referenced here must have been in the specific dialect (Moroccan or

Levantine), or if it is acceptable to have a degree in teaching Arabic of any or no dialect.

15 General / PWS

1.6.5.2

Location of

Services

The PWS is currently expected to be performed at the Partner Language Training

Center Europe (PLTCE) in

Germany. The PLTCE's website states that due to

COVID-19, upcoming PLTCE courses may not be held in

Garmisch, and that the PLTCE staff is creating possible ways to provide online instruction.

Does the government plan on offering online instruction given the ongoing COVID-19 crisis?

The Government is currently offering online language courses.

However, for this procurement, per

PWS paragraph 1, the Government requires in-person language instruction training. As stated in

PWS paragraph 1.6.5. the primary place of performance is Garmisch-

Partenkirchen. The Government does not plan to offer courses at an alternate location, and will do so only on an emergency basis.

16 Performance

Work

Statement:

1.6.5.

Admin, Place of

Performance

Is E-learning acceptable for the entire contract period.

Meaning if an instructor lives further away can the instructor teach online?

See response to Question #15.

17 PWS 1.6.5.1,

PWS Part 3 &

PWS 4.3

Contractor /

Government-

Furnished

Equipment &

Supplies

If courses are taught remotely due to COVID-19, will the government provide, or reimburse the Contractor for, the platform for online

For courses presented from an alternate place of performance, language instruction contractors use

Google Classroom as a Learning

Management System and

Category Question Answer cont’d instruction? Does the government have a preferred platform provider for online instruction (Blackboard, Google Classroom, etc.)?

BigBlueButton for video-conferencing.

18 PWS 1.7.2 Installation

Access

PWS 1.7.2 states "Upon meeting required security criteria, the contractor shall obtain an Installation Pass for

Sheridan Kaserne and

Artillery Kaserne

Garmisch…" Please specifiy what the "required security criteria" are.

PWS paragraph 1.7.2.1. and part 7 publications refer to Army in

Europe (AE) Regulation 190-16

Installation Access Control System, and this regulation states the required security criteria for installation access.

19 PWS 1.6.7 &

PWS 1.7.2.1

Security

Requirements

PWS 1.6.7 states that security requirements are "not applicable." However, PWS

1.7.2.1 states "Access to U.S.

installations and controlled areas is limited to personnel who meet security criteria and are authorized by Host Nation law to work in that country.

Failure to submit required information/data and obtain required documentation or clearances in accordance with

Army in Europe (AE

Regulation 190- 16, Installation Access Control, will be grounds for denying access to U.S. installations and controlled areas." Please clarify what, if any, security requirements the Contractor's personnel must meet in order to work on this contract.

The security requirements referred to in PWS paragraph 1.6.7. refer to security clearance requirements, of which there are none in this procurement. The installation access requirements as stated in

1.7.2.1. and the AE regulation stated above are required.

20 PWS 1.7.3 &

PWS 3.8

Contractor

Training

Should the Contractor factor these hours (for government-provided training) into its pricing?

The Government requests one price per course, per dialect, with no separate pricing information requested. Therefore, how the

Offeror determines pricing is a business decision.

21 PWS 1.6.5. Admin, Place of

Performance

Is travel expenses and/or relocation funds available?

Please see response to Question

#20.

22 PWS 1.7.3 &

PWS 3.8

Training Is the training referenced in

PWS 1.7.3 the same as the training in PWS 3.8? If not, how many hours of training will be required to meet the requirements of PWS 3.8?

It is the same training. As stated in

PWS 1.7.3, the training takes no more than four hours and can be completed during work hours.

Historically, this training is completed during the morning of course Day 1.

Category Question Answer

23 PWS 3.9 Web-Based

Classroom

Does the government plan to utilize the Learning

Management System for

Language Enhancement

Course (LEC) referenced in

PWS 3.9? If so, will this also be used to provide remote instruction?

The LMS for online Language

Enhancement Courses will be used when determined by the

Government, most likely in the event of an emergency. If utilized, yes the LMS would be for remote instruction.

24 PWS 5.5.3 Instructional

Materials

Per PWS 5.5.3, "The

Contractor shall work as a team member to develop instructional material, coordinate instructional activities and assignment of student sections with other instructors, as directed by the

COR." Please clarify if the

Contractor is responsible for development of course and instructional materials, to include lesson plans.

Yes, as stated in PWS paragraph

1.3. the contractor shall develop course materials, and as stated in

PWS paragraph 5.3.1. The contractor shall develop all course materials to meet the language-learning needs of individual classes/students. That is, the instruction should be learner-centered and tailored.

25 A23

Solicitation, 52.212-2

Evaluation –

Commercial

Items (Oct

2014)

“Addendum”, B.

Administrative

(Volume I)

Organizational

Conflict of

Interest (OCI)

Volume I requires that

Offerors submit

"Organizational Conflict of

Interest (OCI) certification."

Please specify what is acceptable proof to meet this requirement. For example, may Offerors simply state that they have no OCI, or does the government require that we submit some kind of certification from a 3rd party?

The Attachment 6 OCI certification will suffice. The instructions for this certification are stated in the final page. If an Offeror has no

OCI, e.g. has no current/prior

Government contract(s), the Offeror may state “none” or “n/a” at Block

6, but still complete the other relevant sections and sign. This

OCI certification is required along with the other Volume I administrative requirements.

26 A23

Solicitation, E.

Factor 1 -

Technical

Approach &

Capability

(Volume Iv), E.2 Personnel

Matrix

Personnel Matrix The instructions state that

"The Offeror shall provide a

Personnel Matrix to detail how the staffing levels were derived." However, elsewhere in the RFP, it states that only two Key Personnel are required. Please clarify if more than two personnel are required for this contract?

How many personnel currently serve on the incumbent contract?

Two (2) key personnel are required, per PWS paragraph 5.6.1.1. The incumbent contract currently has two (2) instructors. When the

Attachment 3 Personnel Matrix is completed by the Offeror, this will demonstrate which CLIN and requirements are being met, which therefore demonstrates how the staffing levels are derived.

27 A23

Solicitation

A.1.4.1 Labeling May Offerors include a cover page with the information required by Section A.1.4.2, instead of a cover letter?

As long as the information required at Section A.1.4.2. is presented, it can be a cover page or cover letter.

28 A23

Solicitation

A.1.4.1 Labeling Must each Volume be submitted as a separate Zip file, or is a standard file

As stated under “Note” in Section

A.1.6., the email size limitation is

10MB for a single email. The

Category Question Answer cont’d acceptable as long as it is under 8MB?

Offeror may determine how to consolidate or separate the volumes of their proposal.

29 A23

Solicitation

A.1.4.1 Pages

Counted

Is an RFP Cross-Reference

Matrix required in each

Volume?

Offerors shall determine where a cross-reference matrix is required, in order to allow the Government to determine what information is cross referenced.

30 A23

Solicitation Att

3 Personnel

Matrix

Technical, Section L & M hours requirement

Contracting Offier’s update:

Solictation Section L Factor 1

Staffing Plan states Offerors shall submit a technical approach that includes, but not limited to, the proposed number of hours of performance per course; and

Section M Factor 1 states those hours will be included in the Government’s evaluation of offers. However, the

Solicitation Attachment 3

Personnel Matrix did not request number of hours per course.

Solicitation Attachment 3 Personnel

Matrix has been updated to request number of hours per course.

Note: any additional questions and answers will be added to this listing and sent out in future RFP amendments.

SECTION SF 1449 - CONTINUATION SHEET

The following have been modified:

SECTION J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 – PWS

Attachment 2 – Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) instructions and certificate

Attachment 3 – Personnel Matrix (updated)

Attachment 4 – Nondisclosure Agreement

Attachment 5 – Pricing Template

Attachment 6 – Personnel Qualification Requirements

Attachment 7 – Template for Questions and Answers on Solicitation

Attachment 8 – Past Performance Questionnaire (updated)

(End of Summary of Changes)