20140919_CDD_Q_and_A_Final_v1.pdf

Question 1: Will the government allow cross teaming (i.e., a small company bids as a Prime on the contract and also bids as a sub to a large business Prime) for this opportunity?

A: The Government will have a contractual obligation with the Prime. The method the Primes propose to accomplish the work is up to the Prime.

Question 2: Page 4, Item No. 0004, 1004, 2004, 3004 and 4004 Monthly Reports: The government identifies 80 monthly reports over a 60-month contract period. Is this an oversight and it should be 60 monthly reports?

A: No see the answer to 38

Question 3: Page 14, Scope: The government lists four Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) to be assessed. In light of the Deliverables requirements on page 15, do these programs cover the entire list of assessments to be performed or do they represent the first group of assessments to be awarded during the base year?

A: The first group.

Question 4: Page 14, Scope: Will the government issue a task order(s) for a specific program to be assessed or will it based on specific cleared defense contractors?

A: Task orders will be specified along program, technology (to include manufacturing techniques), component, and might be specified to a single cleared defense contractor.

Question 5: Page 14, Level of Expertise Required: Will task orders be competed, assigned to a specific contractor based on capabilities, or has the government determined selection criteria for awarding a task orders?

A: The first four task orders will be awarded to the proposed awardees and all subsequent requirements will be competed.

Question 6: Page 15, Deliverable 0002: “the contractor will include a list of sources…used to score each factor…” Please identify what are the “factors” that must be scored?

A: The contractor will present the factors they deem most relevant and likely to provide the greatest insight into supply chain security, program protection, contractor safeguarding, and business reliability/resilience for the government to assess. The factors described by the contractor will be used in the government’s selection criteria for a judgment of the level of rigor proposed by the contractor.

Question 7: Page 20, Evaluation: Please provide specific instructions for proposal submission.

A: Instructions for Submitting Your Offer

a. When submitting your response for consideration, please ensure that all of the following items are submitted. Failure to do so could result in your response being rejected. Responses shall be presented in a manner that clearly addresses the requirements of the Performance Work Statement for this RFP and the Performance Requirements Summary.

b. Technical and Price Proposals shall be separate documents. While the Technical Proposal must not contain any reference to price, resource information (such as data concerning labor hours and categories, materials, subcontracts, etc.) must be provided in sufficient detail to evaluate the Contractor’s understanding of the PWS requirements. Technical proposals should be limited to pages 8.5 x 11, font size 12. Technical proposals shall include the date of availability for each proposed employee/sub-contractor employee anticipated to work on the project. If proposed personnel become unavailable prior to award, the contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer, and provide corrected information.

c. The length of the response is limited as identified below. Information submitted beyond limitations will not be evaluated and could be cause for rejection of the excess response.

Section Page Limit Technical Response 15 Staffing Plan 10 Management Response 10 Past Performance 2 Price N/A

There is no page limit for the price proposal but technical information included in the price proposal will not be evaluated.

d. Your response shall include the following information:

(1). FACTOR 1 – Technical Response: The Offeror shall demonstrate understanding of the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The proposal will be evaluated based on the proposed approach to perform the work.

(2) FACTOR 2 - Staffing Plan: The offeror’s proposal will be evaluated to determine if the staffing plan is reasonable to ensure adequate level of personnel to perform the work and if the proposed personnel possess adequate education and experience to successfully perform the contract work effort in accordance with the performance work statement.

(3) FACTOR 3 – Management Response: The proposal will be evaluated to determine if the proposed management process and procedures are adequate to ensure timely and quality performance of the PWS requirements.

(4) FACTOR 4- Past Performance: The proposal will be evaluated to determine if the past performance examples provided are of a similar scope and magnitude of this requirement.

(5) FACTOR 5- Price: Price analysis will be used to determine that the prices are fair and reasonable.

Price will not be assigned an adjectival rating or be scored.

(6). Relative Importance of Factors. The relative importance of each factor is as follows: Factor 1, Factor 2, Factor 3, Factor 4 are of equal importance. All evaluation factors other than Price, when combined, are approximately equal to price.

Technical/Risk Ratings

Question 8: Page 20, and Evaluation: Are companies required to submit past performance, we don’t see it in the evaluation factors? If yes, what are the minimum or maximum number of past performances required?

A: Past Performance: Provide three references for work you completed within the past three years for commerical due diligences services. This information should not exceed two pages. Include the contract number; the point of contact (POC) and his or her title, telephone number, e-mail address; the dollar amount of the contract; and state if you were a prime or sub-contractor. The POC must be able to verify the work described. You are responsible for assuring the POCs contact information is up to date and that they are currently available.

Question 9: Contract Vehicle: Please validate that it is the government’s intention to make this a full and open RFP and NOT use either GSA MOBIS, DSS BPA, or some other contract vehicle.

A: That is correct.

Question 10: RFP Documents: Included in the draft RFP is an attachment for Wage Determination, please validate that this contract will NOT fall under the Wage Determination schedule.

A: All service requirements that exceed the threshold of $2500 are required to have a Wage Determination in accordance with FAR part

22.10 http://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%2022_10.html since the requirement does not fall under the exemptions listed in FAR part 22.10 the wage determination was provided.

Question 11: Page 41 Clauses: It appears that the FFP for each unit within a CLIN is all-inclusive. Yet FAR Clause 52.216-20 (included in RFP) states “The Government may issue orders requiring delivery to multiple destinations or performance at multiple locations.” Is it intended that travel and ODC’s will be included in the unit FFP? If not, when asked to perform at locations outside of local area, will the contractor be able to charge separately for travel and ODCs, over and above the FFP?

A: Travel cost are typically priced on a Cost NTE CLIN. If travel is required it will be specific to the Task Order.

Question 12: When does the government anticipate releasing the “actual” RFP for this opportunity and does the government anticipate extending the Proposal due date?

http://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%2022_10.html

A: As soon as possible

Question 13: Will the government allow cross teaming (i.e., a large company bids as a Prime on the contract and also bids as a sub to a small business Prime) for this opportunity?

A: Please see the answer to 1

Question 14: Will the government allow a company to be a sub to more than one Prime?

A: Please see the answer to 1

Question 15: Page 4, Item No. 0004, Monthly Reports: The government requires 80 monthly reports for a 60-month maximum contract period. Should the amount be 60 monthly reports?

A: No, please see the answer to 38

Question 16: Page 14, Paragraph 3, Scope: The government lists four programs to be assessed. In light of the Deliverables requirements on page 15, are these programs inclusive of all assessments to be performed, do they represent the first set of assessments to be performed in the base year, or are they simply samples?

A: They are not inclusive and they will be the first set of assessments.

Question 17: Page 14, Paragraph 3, Scope: Will the government issue a task order(s) for a specific program to be assessed; and, will there be no work permitted until a specific task order is issued?

A: Yes and yes

Question 18: Page 14, Paragraph 4, Level of Expertise Required: Will task orders be competed or assigned to a specific contractor based on the offeror’s unique qualifications? Has the government determined selection criteria for awarding task orders?

Please see the question 5

Question 19: Page 15, Paragraph 5, Deliverable 0002: What are the “factors” that must be scored in the Government’s risk assessment methodology?

A: Please see the answer to question 6

Question 20: Page 17, DELIVERY/TASK ORDER MINIMUM / MAXIMUM QUANTITY AND ORDER VALUE:

The Maximum Quantity identified is 20, but the CLINS total 25. Should the Maximum Quantity be 25?

A: No, the information on page 20 is prepositioned information and is not applicable to what you are providing in your proposal. Then information on page 20 is correct.

Question 21: Page 20, Under Evaluation: The government provides factors to be used to evaluate offers, but does not provide specific instructions or requirements for submission. What are the submission requirements; for example, what are the page and section limits, number of volume files required, file structure (e.g., font, margins), and related submission requirements?

A: Technical proposals will be limited to pages 8.5 x 11, font size 12. The page limits for your proposal are as follows:

Section Page Limit Technical Response 15 Staffing Plan 10 Management Response 10 Past Performance 2 Price N/A

Technical Risk/Rating

Outstanding - Proposal meets requirements and indicates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements. Strengths far outweigh any weaknesses. Risk of unsuccessful performance is very low.

Good - Proposal meets requirements and indicates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements. Proposal contains strengths which outweigh any weaknesses. Risk of unsuccessful performance is low.

Acceptable - Proposal meets requirements and indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. Strengths and weaknesses are offsetting or will have little or no impact on contract performance. Risk of unsuccessful performance is no worse than moderate.

Marginal - Proposal does not clearly meet requirements and has not demonstrated an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. The proposal has one or more weaknesses which are not offset by strengths. Risk of unsuccessful performance is high.

Unacceptable - Proposal does not meet requirements and contains one or more deficiencies. Note: a rating of Unacceptable is not eligible for award.

Question 22: Page 20, Under Evaluation: The government provides factors to be used to evaluate offers, but does not provide requirements for past performance or experience. Will the government require demonstration of past performance and/or experience? If yes, how many examples will be required or allowed?

A: Please see the question 8

Question 23: Page 20, Under Evaluation: If past performance is required, how will it be evaluated as part of the overall selection process?

A: Each offer will be evaluated based on how well the vendor has performed in the past for its customers (including DSS). DSS will only consider past performance information that is considered relevant to this procurement. In addition, DSS will consider the degree of relevance for the vendor’s overall past performance. DSS reserves the right to independently gather past performance information from any source, including sources other than the ones listed by the vendor, and from the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS). Vendors without past experience will receive a neutral rating.

Question 24: What is the government contracting vehicle for this contract?

A: A DSS IDIQ contract

Question 25: Are there formatting requirements or page limits for each of the sections required in the RFP response?

A: Please see question 21

Question 26: Can you please provide the name of the previous contractor(s) and contract number(s) associated with this work?

A: The previous vendors of the CDD services at DSS were provided under a BPA. The contractors were:

Deloitte (HS0021-10-A-0017 order 11 and 18) and Anser (HS0021-12-A-0001 order 2).

Question 27: Page 14: Level of Expertise: In this paragraph there is requirement, “The contractor shall have demonstrated international reach and access to globally deployed business professionals and cross-functional expertise in multiple commercial industries…” In paragraph 5 on page 15, the government states “The contractor shall not contact representative or employees of prime or subcontractors involved in specified programs.”

Why does a Contractor need access to globally deployed business professionals if we are not able to engage with the MDAP primes or subcontractors?

A: The contractor must demonstrate international reach and access to business professionals and cross-functional/sector experts to effectively assess any possible cleared company, working any possible MDAP, and dealing with any possible technology, component, or process. If the contractor can demonstrate sufficient expertise without access to globally deployed business professionals it should be clearly justified.

Question 28: Is the 2 page Past Performance section a separate section (in addition to technical, staffing, and management) or is it to be part of the technical section?

A: Past Performance should be submitted with the technical response but has a two page limit.

Question 29: Will the Government require/value quantitative data analytics in the creation of the risk rating system sought?

A: Yes, the government will require/value quantitative data analytics in the creation of the risk rating systems. The government will further consider qualitative indicators, deemed sufficient by the contractor, for consideration and value.

Question 30: Will the Government require/value the use of regression analysis in the creation of the risk rating system sought?

A: Yes, the government will value the use of regression analysis, univariate/bivariate/multivariate analysis, and other data mining and exploratory data analysis techniques.

Question 31: Would the Government consider extending the submission date to September 29, 2014?

This extra time will facilitate the much needed extra time to incorporate changes from the final RFP.

A: No, the 29th will not allow enough time to conduct all the required acquisition functions that must occur after the solicitation closes. The final RFP changes should only be minor changes which is why the requirement was placed out as a draft in order to give you time to work on the requirement.

Question 32: Who is the incumbent?

A: Please see question 26

Question 33:What are instructions for page count, experiences or past performances?

A: Please see question 7

Question 34: Reference Page 4. Section 4 Level of Expertise Required. “The successful contractor shall have demonstrated experience performing similar due diligence, research, and analysis for other Intelligence Community clients with an emphasis on supply chain risk analysis and research, development, and acquisition programs” Does the Government want commercial due diligence experience for supply chain risk analysis for RDA programs with experience working with the Intelligence Community and clients?

A: Yes, or the demonstrated expertise and access to deliver such a capability.

Question 35: Reference Page 4. Section 4 Level of Expertise: demonstrated international reach and access to professionals and expertise in commercial industries capabilities. Must the bidder have all the capabilities listed to be technically acceptable?

A: No. Technical acceptability is best categorized as sufficiently capable of providing the best analytical platform capable of scaling to address all MDAPs.

Question 36: Please explain the pricing requirements and what level of detail is required?

A: Please see question 7

Question 37: Risk assessment performance period is stated as a 90 days. Each CLIN provides for a minimum (one) and maximum quantity (twenty) task orders for each year. Is a 90 day risk assessment equivalent to a task order?

A: The quantities you see are for the set up or the overarching contract. Each Task Order will have it’s own period of performance. The shell of the contract was set up to help save some time post proposal submission. The components in section 6.0 Deliverable Schedule in any combination can consist of a task order and typically the required suspense will be 90 days.

Question 38: It is assumed that monthly manpower reporting will be required for the 20 task orders for each of the 4 deliverables to equal the quantity of 80 shown in Tasks 0004, 1004, 2004, 3004, and 4004.

Is this a correct assumption? If not, please clarify.

A: The monthly report on CLIN 0004 is different than 0005 the Contract Manpower Report (I think the question is mixing the two). You are not correct in that assumption of that 80. The 80 represents the maximum quantity possible which is required for the shell contract set up. That number consists of 20 reports per CLIN at four months instead of three to cover the months were more than three months of reporting is required.

Question 39: There are 4 MDAP programs identified in the solicitation. Are these MDAP programs task orders? Are they the basis for pricing minimum task orders?

A: These programs are the anticipated first orders. It is your decision regarding how you price your proposal.

Question 40: Given the size and complexity of RDA programs impacts the company and suppliers, how does the Government intent to normalize pricing to account for this variance?

A: For this IDIQ the Government expects the vendors to propose their best approach to accomplish the overall requirement. After the contract is awarded for the first orders are cut the awardees are expected to compete for the follow on task orders. Each task order will be a stand alone contract which will allow the normalization of pricing based on the preestablished rates submitted with your initial proposal.

Question 41: Are all contractor personnel assigned to this project required to hold a TS/SCI clearance?

Or can contractor personnel conducting data collection for publically available data for initial due diligence on commercial entities possess minimum clearance level while any assessment work will be conducted by appropriately cleared contractor personnel?

A: Not all personnel assigned to this project require a TS with SCI eligibility. The bulk of data collection from public records or open and unclassified sources may possess minimum clearances. Any one assigned or granted access to the analytical model, data aggregate, reports, and processes developed, provided, or utilized must have a Secret clearance at a minimum.

Question 42: Based on the requirements of the Solicitation with the DSS consider commercial GSA MOBIS labor categories that provide the requisition knowledge, experience, and skills to address the complexity and scope of the RFP task?

A: This is an open market requirement which means the award will not be from a GSA schedule. You are free to submit the technical response utilizing what ever categories and prices you deem necessary to submit your proposal.

Question 43: Reference Page 16 Section 9 (a); refers to the OCI Clause included on the solicitation, however the clause is not present. Please advise of the appropriate OCI clause.

A: The OCI clause will be added to the solicitation.