Admin_RFI_Q&A_21_Mar_19.pdf

Admistrative Support Services RFI Questions & Answers

Question PWS Section Government Answer

Is this a new requirement or a contract renewal?

n/a This is a recompete of a current contract.

If renewal, what is the current contract number?

n/a HS0021-14-C-0002

When will the RFP be released? n/a April 2019

Will there be a new solicitation number? n/a Yes, the solicitation number is

HS0021-19-R-0005

Will the Government consider an 8(a) set-aside?

n/a No, the Government is doing a 100% Small Business set-aside

Who is the incumbent? n/a METIS Solutions, LLC

Will the formal solicitation/PWS be updated to reflect how many FTEs per labor category the Government is looking for?

n/a The Government will include a table for the "Estimated Workload" in Sectin 7

Section 5.14.1 states that Special Projects Support Services options will be exercised two weeks per month in accordance with the schedule in Section

7.2. However, there is no Section 7.2

included in the PWS or the RFI. Could the Government please provide this schedules so that offerors can better understand and prepare for this requirement? Also, does the Government expect that this requirement will be filled by existing personnel that are temporarily assigned to these projects two weeks per month or that the requirement will be fulfilled by additional personnel who work on these projects part-time?

5.14.1 Original PWS 5.14.1 was

deleted from the PWS.

The phase-in requirement suggests that this is not a new requirement. If this is an existing requirement, what company is currently performing these services?

1.19 See answer to question #6

Sections 5.4.1-5.4.3 indicate that Tasks 1-3 correspond with the requirements in PWS Sections 5.5-5.24. However, the PWS includes tasks up to section 5.27.

Please clarify to which tasks sections 5.25-5.27 correspond.

5.4 See the updated Section

numbers.

Vacancy Rate - Many times a client takes significant time reviewing and approving candidates. We have no control over the clients review process.

Will the contractor still be penalized if the candidates are not reviewed in a timely manner? What will DSS do to ensure their review process does not cause problems for the contractor?

5.3.4 Performance

Standard 4

The contractor will not be penalized if candidates are not reviewed in a timely manner by the Government.

Vacancy Rate - The process for obtaining clearances for candidates can be lengthy in todays environment. This can affect whether a position is filled or remains vacant. How will DSS address this issue? Would it be possible to have exceptions be put in place to address this matter?

5.3.4 Performance

Standard 4

DSS cannot address this subject in it's entirety for this contract.

Any expections would have to be made on a case by case basis by the Contracting Officer.

Vacancy Rate - Will a position still be considered vacant even if the contractor temporarily fills the position with a "floater"?

5.3.4 Performance

Standard 4

No. The position will be considered filled if there is a "Floater" filling the position on a temporary basis.

Did the Government intend to inlclude PWS 5.22 in Task 2? Currently PWS

5.42 references PWS sections 5.14 to 5.21.

PWS 5.4.2 See answer to question #10

Did the Government intend for section

5.22 to reference Task 3: Senior Administrative and Mangaement Support {PWS Sections 5.22 to 5.24) rather "Specialized Admin and Program Support (Security Office, Quantico, VA)? Currently PWS section 5.25 referneces task 3. If not, is section 5.22 -

5.24 related to Task 2, Specialized Administrative and Program Support and should contractors consider this information when providing a response to Task 2?

PWS 5.22 and 5.25 See answer to question #10

Does the Government require the Top Secret facility clearance at the time of proposal or at the time of award?

PWS 4.3 See Section 4.3. Contractor shall have been granted the top Secret facility clearnace at time of award.

Will the personnel require the clearances at the time of proposal or at the time of award?

PWS 4.3 Time of award.

Will interim personnel clearances be acceptable?

PWS 4.3 See Section 4.3. Interim Secret clearance are allowed. TS/SCI must be eligible at time of start.

For the actual RFP, we recommend the Government permit the use of past performance references from the past 5 years.

n/a The solicitation states 3 years.

Using anything beyond 3 years could affect the relevancy rating of your Past Performance.

What is the projected award date? The RFI Admin Services document states the projected award date is "on or about 30, April 2018"

Page 3. Projected Award Date Section. Located just below required RFI questions.

The projected award date is anticipated to be July 2019.

The RFI states,"Relevant projects should be similar in size and scope."

This appears to be restrictive to firms that may have similar past performance that may not necessarily have similar size.

Page 2. Information Requested Section 2(a).

See Section M on how Past Performance is rated. It is important for offerors to show they have been awarded similar efforts in the past to show you will be successful on this requirement.

Is the governement holding us to our proposed labor categories or does the governemnet plan to create their own list of labor categories for this requirement?

The Government will provide a list of "Estimated Workload" that will include the task numbers and anticipated FTE hours. It is up to the contractor to propose the most appropriate labor category mix to fulfill the requirements of the PWS.

What is the amount budgeted for this new requirement?

n/a Ceiling for the Base IDIQ will be $100M. See "Task Order Technical Exhibit 7.1" for workload estimate hours on the task order.

How much was expended on this current contract?

n/a $35M

Is there a Right to First Refusal? n/a No.

Can we contact the current FTEs to ascertain an LOI?

n/a The Government will not provide contact information for current contractor employees.

What are the Labor Categories? n/a See the draft PWS.

Is there SCA or CBA and will all pertinent information be provided on both?

n/a No there is not.

Is this an LPTA? n/a IDIQ award will be made based off Price Performance Trade Off. See Sections L&M.

Are 8(a) JVs allowed? n/a The requirement is 100% set aside for Small Business.

Do interested vendors needs to have a GSA schedule in order to bid on this opportunity?

n/a No.

Will Attachment 1 and 2 be provided on the Solicitation?

n/a Yes.

End of April 2019, correct? RFI_Admin_Services.pdf page 3 “Project Award Date.”

No. July 2019.

What were the labor categories used in the prior contract?

n/a The labor categories are the same on this contract.

Relationship of 5.25, 5.26, and 5.27 to Tasks 1, 2, and 3 is not entirely clear.

ADMINSS_PWS_Draft pages 28-29

See answer to question #10

The sentence appears to have been truncated and appears to be missing a verb.

ADMINSS_PWS_Draft page 28 “5.26”

Corrected.

Does the Service Contract Act apply?

If so, are there labor categories for which the incumbent is reporting that SCA wage minimums may be correlated with recruiting challenges and/or excessive turnover?

n/a No.

Can the Government provide information on current and/or expected labor mix between tasks 1, 2, and 3?

n/a See answer to question #7 and #22

Coverage. 1.18.1 indicates “The Contractor is responsible for providing temporary coverage in the event of an extended absence of two (2) or more consecutive days.” Does this apply to regularly scheduled vacation absences, or only staff vacancies and sick leave, or all three?

Also, for front/reception desks, is coverage required to be provided for breaks and lunch?

ADMINSS_PWS_Draft page 6, "1.18.1"

This applies to any absence of two (2) or more days.

Is the government able to reveal the building address in Crystal City that contractor staff may have to attend?

n/a Specific building locations will be made available upon contract award.

Which staff might have to travel to Fort Meade, and how often?

n/a Minimal, if any at all, travel will be required for this requirement and addressed at the task order level.

Does the Prime Bidder have to have a Top Secret clearnce at the tie of proposal submittal? Or, can the Prime Bidder allocate any task requiring a Top Secret clearance to their proposed subcontractor (who has a TS Clearance) pending the Prime Bidder's interim TS Clerance being issued?

n/a See Section 4.3. Contractor shall have been granted the top Secret facility clearnace at time of award.

Will the Government sponsor the awardee for a Top Secret Clearance?

n/a See Section 4.3. Contractor shall have been granted the top Secret facility clearnace at time of award.

Will the government allow affiliate past performance? We have many wholly owned subsidiaries that are managed directly by (contractor name removed).

n/a Please see Past Performance requirements in the solicitation.