Questions_from_Draft_Solicitation_-_Final_for_Posting.pdf

HS0021-19-R-0003 QUESTION PWS/RFP REFERENCE RESPONSE

The following personnel are considered key personnel by the government: Program Manager (PM), Task Lead(s) (TL), and Quality Assurance Lead(s) – (QAL). If the contractor feels there are additional management positions required to perform this requirement can the additional personnel be submitted as key personnel?

1.6.10 No, the Government has already determined the personnel who are Key for this requirement.

All non-key personnel staffing the VROC Knowledge Center and the DoD CAF Call Center shall be sufficiently skilled and experienced to carry out responsibilities providing accurate responses to customer inquiries without the need to escalate inquiries. Specifically, staff servicing the VROC Knowledge center and DoD CAF Call Center are expected to take ownership in providing credible responses and assistance to inquiries without deferment to functional area or individuals outside of the Call Center. Are resumes required for non-key personnel?

1.6.11.1 No, resumes for Non-Key Personnel are not required.

Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, a quote can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the quote. Is a letter of commitment required for each key person submitted in the proposal?

2.1.6 Yes

The contractor shall furnish equipment to meet the requirements under this PWS that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS. Is there any equipment currently being provided by the contractor that is not listed in section 3 of the solicitation?

4.3 No

5 How many FTE’s are required for this program? L.5.4.1.c The Government has provided estimated workload data in PWS Section 7.2 Technical Exhibit 2 of the Solicitation for contractors to utilize in preparing their proposals.

6 What is the Level-of-Effort (LOE)? In both FTE’s and Man-Hours? L.5.4.1.c See the answer to question 5.

7 How many PMs are required? L.5.4.1.c

The work requirement consists of two (2) different physical locations as identified in 1.6.2 Place of Performance in the solicitation. The Government is not mandating that multiple Program Managers are required. However, the contractor must demonstrate adequate management oversight in their proposal for both site locations.

8 How many Task Leads are required? L.5.4.1.c

The work requirement consists of two (2) different physical locations as identified in 1.6.2 Place of Performance in the solicitation. The Government is not specifying the number of Task Leads, however the Contractor must demonstrate adequate staffing and technical approach in their proposal to accomplish the requirements in Section 5 of the PWS and Technical Exhibit

7.2 Technical Exhibit 2 Estimated Workload and 7.2.1 Technical Exhibit 2.1 of the PWS contained in the Solicitation.

9 How many Quality Assurance Leads are required? L.5.4.1.c

The work requirement consists of two (2) different physical locations as identified in 1.6.2 Place of Performance in the solicitation. The Government is not specifying the number of Quality Assurance Leads, however the Contractor must demonstrate adequate staffing and technical approach in their proposal to accomplish the requirements in Section 5 of the PWS and Technical Exhibit 7.2 Technical Exhibit 2 Estimated Workload and 7.2.1 Technical Exhibit 2.1 of the PWS contained in the Solicitation.

10 What are the Non-Key personnel? How many are required? L.5.4.1.c Non-Key Personnel are described in PWS sections 1.6.11. Please see the answer to question 5 for the second part of the question.

11 Who is the incumbent currently performing the work? L.5.4.1.c This is a new requirement that consolidates requirements currently being performed by Inquiries, Inc and Xcelerate Solutions.

12 Is this a new requirement? L.5.4.1.c See the answer to question 11.

13 How many FTE’s per each location? L.5.4.1.c See the answer to question 5.

14 What is the labor breakout for each location? L.5.4.1.c See the answer to question 5.

15 Is there a PM for each location? L.5.4.1.c See the answer to question 7.

16 How many Key Personnel are there? How many resumes are required for Volume III? L.5.4.1.c See the answer to questions 5, 7, 8, and 9.

17 Is there a resume required for one PM, one Task Lead and one QA Lead? L.5.4.1.c Resumes are requires for all Key Personnel as specified in L.5.4.1.1.d in the solicitation.

Section L.5.4.1.1.d states, “The proposal shall provide copies of resume(s) for all of the key personnel identified in PWS Section 1.6.11.” However, Section 1.6.11 enumerates the Non-Key Personnel – please advise

L.5.3.1.1 /1.6.11 The PWS has been updated with the correct references.

19 Can Offerors use another clear, readable 12-point font other than Arial or Times New Roman? L.4 Contractors shall adhere to the submission requirements described in L.4 Proposal Files indicated in the solicitation.

For Volume I: Proposal Summary, Solicitation, Proposal & Award Document(s), Section L.5.2 lists the elements of the proposal Summary, please clarify the reference to “Solicitation, Proposal and Award Documents”?

L.5.2 The solicitation requirement L.5.2 indicates required data to be provided in the proposal identifying the Contractor.

Regarding section L.5.3.1.1 Contract Description, the RFP says “This section shall include the following information in the following format…” by “format” is it intended for the Offeror to follow exactly the listed bullets a through k, in that order, or can we create a table or graphic with this information in it -please clarify.

L.5.3.1.1

The Contractor's proposal Volume 2 responding to solicitation requirement L.5.3 Past Performance must contain data pertaining to items a. through k.

for the Government to thoroughly make an accurate assessment of the Offeror's past performance. The data does not need to be represented in an albetical manner identical to items a. through k. it can be displayed in a graphical format or any other format of the Contractor's choosing.

22 Section L.4.6 - Given this solicitation is still in draft form, are proposal submissions still due on November 30, 2018? L.4.6 Please see the solicitation that was posted to FBO, the date has been revised.

23 What is the number of key personnel required for each of these labor categories for proposals to be considered technically acceptable? 1.6.10 Please see the answer to question 13.

Is there a minimum number of key personnel required for each of these key personnel roles in order for proposal evaluators to determine technical acceptability in accordance with Technical evaluation criteria (Page 82, M.2 and Page 84, M.4 Factor 2)?

1.6.10, 1.6.10.1, 1.6.10.2, 1.6.10.3 Please see the answer to questions, 5, 13, and 16.

Paragraph 1.6.10 references Task Lead(s) and not Site Lead(s). The solicitation does not provide key personnel qualifications for Task Lead(s), but in paragraph 1.6.10.2 the document provides key personnel qualifications for Site Lead(s). Can the government clarify if the requirement is for Task Lead(s), Site Lead(s), or both?

1.6.10 and 1.6.10.2

Do to the similarities and distinct differences of the work requirements identified in PWS Section 5 of the solicitation for two separate locations and importance of the task accomplishment, the Government requires positive management by the Contractor. PWS section 1.6.10.2 Site Lead(s) represents requirement to achieve effective and efficient management the Government can readily access.

For all non-key personnel labor categories, does the government require minimum qualifications (i.e.

education, years of relevant experience) to be proposed by the offeror, or can the government further define the minimum qualifications other than that individuals need a clearance?

1.6.11, 1.6.11.1, 1.6.11.2

Non-Key Personnel as described in 1.6.11 through 1.6.11.3.2 are Personnel Security Specialists or Assistants having greater experience and knowledge to perform work requires associated with VROC Knowledge Center, CAF Call Center, Insider Threat for Industry, Counterintelligence. Additionally, duties and responsibilities associated with 5.7.3 Insider Threat Industry and its subtasks as reflected in the solicitation. The Offeror must demonstrate adequate staffing and technical approach in their proposal to accomplish the requirements and Technical Exhibit 7.2 Technical Exhibit 2 Estimated Workload and 7.2.1 Technical Exhibit 2.1 in the solicitation.

Should offerors include in their staffing plan an explanation of the proposed education and experience requirements for non-key staff and mapping of their proposed labor mix to ensure compliance with all

Federal labor standards for compensation and benefits under the Service Contract Act?

L.5.4.1.1. c

Yes, this is a requirement of L.5.4.1.1.c of the solicitation to link the staffing plan to the tasks in Part 5 of the Performance Work Statement. A description of special skills, experience and/or education associated with Non-Key Personnel to accomplish requirements 1.6.11 through 1.6.11.3.2 for the VROC Knowledge Center, CAF Call Center, Insider Threat for Industry, Counterintelligence in meeting M.4 Factor 2 - Technical Capability a.4. in the solicitation.

28 Will the Government provide any adjectival ratings and descriptions planned for the evaluation of this factor? M.4 Factor 2 The evaluation standard provided in section M.2.2

Given that a portion of this work is performed by a large business for this NAICS code, will the

Government evaluate transition risk or consider a proposed transition plan from an offeror as it relates to beginning performance of the PWS under a new, consolidated contract?

L.5.4 AND M.4 Factor 2

In accordance with FAR 19.502-2(a) Market research indicates that there is a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible small business concerns that are competitive in terms of market prices, quality, and delivery.

Per the instructions the key personnel resumes are included in page allocation, but the letters of commitment are not. With the required number of key personnel positions, will the government exclude resumes from the page allocation for this volume, provided individual resumes are limited to two pages each and included as an Appendix along with the letters of commitment?

L.5.4.4.1.d. No

Allowing offerors to propose personnel they have recruited and hired in the past should sufficiently demonstrate their ability to deliver and minimizes risk to the Government. The government is asking for

Letters of Intent for all proposed key personnel. May the offeror provide evidence of previous employment of proposed key personnel in the same or similar role to meet this requirement while ensuring individuals do not violate any agreements they have in place with their current employer that would prevent them from signing an LOI?

1.6.10 Yes, you can, but a Letter of Commitment is still required for all key personnel not currently employed by the Contractor.

Will the Government update the Solicitation clauses to incorporate the applicable DoL Wage

Determination (WD 15-4265, Revision 8) in line with predecessor work and to help avoid inherent risks to transition, performance, DOL audits, and hidden/unplanned cost increases over the life of the contract?

Page 54, item (c)

The Government anticipates that all personnel performing on any contract resulting from this solicitation will fit the definition of a Professional Employee under FAR 22.1102, as such the provision at FAR 52.222-46 was added to the solicitation.

Will the government please incorporate this Wage Determination into the solicitation to ensure offerors adhere to these mandatory Federal labor standards for compensation and benefits paid to contractors under this contract?

Page 54, item (c)

The provision at 52.222-46 will be added to the solicitation to address Professional Employee Compensation. The Government does not expect other than professional employees performing on any contract resulting from this solicitation.

34 Will past performance of projects that have been in place for at least one year at the time of proposal submission be evaluated more favorably than new projects (I.e. less than 1 year of performance)? L.5.3.1.1

All Past Performance's will be evaluated equally as indicated in section M.3 of the solicitation.

This paragraph falls in the Instructions for preparation of a past performance volume. Can the government clarify that contractors may propose any past performance synopsis from a major subcontractor defined as being proposed to perform more than 25% of the total contract price?

L.5.3.1.3

Yes, as long as it meets the perimeters provided for in the solicitation in regards to recency and relevancy.

Since the government “will not make award against a proposal that presents undue price risk,” should offerors provide compensation plan(s) for each labor category in the proposal to address L.5.4.1.1.c.3, and so the government can determine sustainability of the proposed staffing solution for the life of the contract and mitigate undue price risk?

M.5.1 Contractor's are required to address all requirements identified in the solicitation to be considered responsive in accordance with L.1. in the solicitation.

To determine fair and reasonableness of pricing, and to avoid the risk or experiencing hidden costs during the life of the contract, will the government evaluate pricing (the per-FTE unit price) and compliance with

DoL employment regulations to enable a fair comparison?

M.5.3, M.5.4, M.5.5

The Government will evaluate Offeror's price reasonableness as indicated in L.5. in the solicitation, additionally, pricing will also be evaluated for realism and balance as indicated in M.5.1. in the solicitation.

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