MSC Q A 2.19.10.pdf

MSC Questions and Answers February 19, 2010

As a result of the additional information provided on 2/6/10 and in order to provide an acceptable response to the Department of Homeland Security, Company requests an extension of the proposal due date to March 29, 2010 in lieu of January 28, 2010.

Please see announcement on FBO.gov reflecting an extended due date.

"Which volume should include the signed SF 1449, Section B-Supplies or Services and Prices, completed Certifications and Representations, and Small Business Subcontract Plan?"

Volume II: Price Proposal

"Please provide further clarification on CDRL 0003 Product Drawings. (a.) Does the Government intend to have the Offeror provide a Level 3 TDP on COTS OEM items? (b.) How is this data different from the ""Engineering Data for Provisioning"" requested in CLIN0009 CDRL 0005 ILSP (SO0 paragraph 5.2.9 (5)"

No, the Government does not want Level 3 Drawings. Please refer to the definition of "Product Drawing Package" as stated in paragraph 5.2.8 of the SOO and propose accordingly.

CDRL 0005 (CLIN 0009) is plan, whereas CDRL 0003 (CLIN 0008) is an end-item report.

The text of 2-5-2010 SO0 para 5.2.8, states that the Government wants "technical data for competitive procurement of spares" from the Contractor as part of the CLlN 008 Product Drawing Package. This statement indicates that the Government expects to have a TDP or set of drawings for items that will be spared sufficient to compete a purchase for spare(s). What level of documentation does the government require in order to competitively procure spares?

Please refer to the definition of "Product Drawing Package" as stated in 5.2.8 of the SOO and propose accordingly.

Will the Government provide Progress Payments for this Program per FAR 52.232- 16? If yes, should we request Progress Payments as part of the Offer?

The Government has incorporated into this RFP: FAR 52.232-29, Terms of Financing of Purchases of Commercial Items (FEB 2002).

Will the Government include the Clause 52.225-3 Buy American Act - Free Trade Agreements -- Israeli Trade Act (June 2009)

No, the clause will not be included.

in the RFP?

170 Please verify the CLlN quantities referenced in Section B and Tables 2a & 2b. [Tbl-01] See revised RFP.

In Table 2a option 3 and Table 2b options 3 and 4 the quantities specified start at n16 instead of n1 . Is there a reason?

See revised RFP.

CLIN 0002 includes “TDY travel costs”, however, the description of CLIN 0014 says “this CLIN supports all allowable vendor travel….” Please clarify if CLIN 0002 should include travel. (This question also pertains to each of the option CLIN’s for step pricing and travel)

See updated SOO.

CLIN 0002 is a fully burdened CLIN, and all costs associated with delivery of the system to include warranty repairs, service, and travel must be included in the unit price of

CLIN 0002.

CLIN 0014 is intended to support travel costs associated with CLIN 0011.

In section 6.0 the quantity for CLIN’s 0005 & 0006 is "18”. Shouldn’t those quantities be “up to 13” to align with “1 set per MSC delivered” as specified in the SOO?

See revised section C (SOO) and revised section B.

Will the Government accept Alternate Proposals from the Contractor? If so, must these Alternate proposals be presented as "stand-alone" offers or options to the basic offer. (Question previously submitted by e-mail of 2/2/2010)

The Government will accept multiple stand-alone proposals from a single business entity.

The Government will not accept "alternate proposals" in the meaning of FAR 15.209.

Will suppliers have the ability to make system improvements, component substitutions after the first 2 units are tested/accepted? If they will, what will be the process for making product changes? An answer to this question was deferred in the responses provided on 2/5/10.

The Government will consider post-award changes during the course of contractual deliveries, when those are in the Government's best interest. Any such changes must approved in advance by the Contracting Officer.

In the event of a single award, FAT delivery is required 60 days ARO, however the answer to question #162 states “The government anticipates delivery of GFE in 90 days”. Although the solicitation requires offerors to identify risks of late GFE delivery, this conflict in FAT delivery requirement vs. GFE availability should be clarified before proposals are submitted.

See revised RFP.

Please confirm that a monthly update to the ILSP is no longer required after completion of the transfer of level 2 maintenance to CBP

There are no monthly updates to CDRL 0005 (CLIN 0009) ILSP. However, monthly "warranty actions and status" updates are required under CLIN 0010.

Please explain the reference to “user training” in SOO paragraph 5.7.2. User training is already described in SOO paragraph 5.2.3 and costs covered in CLIN 0003. Are SME’s being expected to train?

If so, to what criteria?

See updated SOO.

There are instances, for example paragraph 5.2.12, CLIN 0012 Over and Above, where it states that “the vendor’s response will not be evaluated”. Please elaborate on what this means. In particular does this mean that the CLIN 0012 price is not include in the total price evaluation?

This phrase (“the vendor’s response will not be evaluated”) means that the CLIN 0012 price is not include in the total price evaluation.

SOO paragraph 5.3.1.5, Vendor Technical Support, states “The Supplier shall propose hourly rate(s) . . . . “. The CLIN form only allows a single rate to be entered. Are multiple rates desired, or just a single rate?

A single composite rate is desired.

In the instructions for Volume II: Price Proposal, the tables shown indicate that CLIN 0014 instances, and all option year related travel CLINs all have “N/A” in the cell for a value. If not entered here, where would these costs be documented?

The price for CLIN 0014 is identified as "N/A" because it is not included in the evaluated price.

Volume II: Price Proposal, Table 2a, CLIN 0004 �Level 1 Vendor Maintenance Training lists quantity 5 each. This is the number of students being taught, but it is a single class. Since unit prices are multiplied by the quantity, it seems that this should be quantity 1 vice 5. Please clarify.

See revised RFP.

As stated on page 2 of the MSCM, the transportation of the units to/from the repair station is included in the system Downtime.

Therefore, to calculate the effort needed to meet the desired Ao, the offeror needs to account for this Downtime component for each of the units delivered. What value should the offeror use for the transportation delay time (e.g. the average round trip transportation delay time per unit is X hours)?

Please see definition of MTTR "Start Time" and "End Time" in the MSCM. Please see updated definition of Level 2 maintenance location in SOO 5.2.10, CLIN 0010.

Section L requires that customers providing past performance information do so on Attachment 4, MSC Past Performance Questionnaire, a PDF form that cannot be easily filled out. Can offeror’s use substantially the same format and create the questionnaire in MSWord format so it can be emailed to customers, have them fill it out and sign it, “PDF” it and then email it to the

CO?

See revised RFP section L.

Section B, CLIN 0010, page 2 & SOO Para

5.2.10 Maintenance and Repair Service, page

20: Given the warranty included in the base year unit price (CLIN 0001 and 0002) covers the cost of all maintenance activities for 1 year following Government acceptance please clarify what scope of work should be included in the CLIN 0010 since it overlaps the warranty period? It appears that CLIN 0010 is redundant with CLIN 1004.

5.2.10 CLIN 0010 states: "The purpose of

this CLIN is to address maintenance and “non-warranty” repair of the system above the operator level (Levels 2 and 3)."

CLIN 1004 is associated with (a) second-year maintenance and “non-warranty” repair on CLIN 0001 and CLIN 0002 purchases, and (b) first-year maintenance and “non-warranty” repair on CLIN 1001 purchases.

Section M.2, page 81 and M.5, page 84 - Cost or Price Evaluation: Section B requires a Unit Price for Optional production CLIN’s 1001, 2001, 3001, and 4001 requires the MSC system extended price be provided at the highest quantity as 50. Page 84 Section M.5 states “The Government will evaluate offers for award by the total price for the base requirements, total price for option requirements, and by total price.” Does this mean that the price evaluation will be based on the sum of all base and optional CLIN’s at maximum quantity? If not what quantity of systems will be used in the evaluation of CLIN’s 0002, 1001, 2001, 3001, and 4001?

Please read RFP section M as a whole, including the references to "best value."

Section M.2, page 81 and M.5, page 84 - Cost or Price Evaluation: Section L.8 requests detailed range pricing for both Ao of 75% and Ao of 95% (see Tables 1 and 2 on pages 79 through 89). Please clarify which version of Ao will be employed in the cost or price evaluation of Section M.2?

Both Ao "Case A" and "Case B" will be employed in the price evaluation. Please read RFP section M as a whole, including the references to "best value."

Table 2a, page 81 and Table 2b, page 85:

Should CLIN 0004 quantity be "1" vs "5" to reflect one class conduct for a class-size of 5 students? Should CLIN 0008 quantity be "5" vs "8"? Should CLIN 0009 quantity be "3" vs "2"?

See revised RFP.

Table 2a, page 81 and Table 2b, page 85:

Should CLIN 0011 unit price be a rate ("xx/hr" vs "$xx,xxx") and its max price be "NA" (vs "$xx,xxx")? Same for related Option CLINs 1005, 2004, 3004 and 4004. Same for Option CLINs 1006, 2005, 3005 and 4005.

Please see updated RFP.

Section L, Tables 1 and 2: In paragraph

5.2.14 CLIN 0014 Vendor Travel Cost of the

SOO (page 22), the travel cost will not be evaluated and this is reflected in the pricing Tables 1 and 2 of Section L (pages 79 through 88) as “N/A”. In paragraph

5.2.12 CLIN 0012 of the SOO (page 22), the

first sentence states that this price will also not be evaluated, however, the pricing Tables 1 and 2 of Section L on pages 79, 80, and 85 do not have a “N/A” to reflect this direction. Please confirm that “N/A” should also be input next to CLIN 0012 on these portions of the pricing tables.

This is a question for the price team but I agree with the vendor; both CLINs 0012 and 0014 are none evaluated CLINs.

FAR Clause 52.251-1, Government Supply Sources, is incorporated by reference into Section I of the MSC solicitation. Will blanket authorization to use GSA Schedules for material purchases be included as a part of the contract terms, or does the Government plan to issue authorization to purchase from a specific vendor/manufacturer GSA Schedule on a case-by-case basis as requested by the prime contractor?

The Government will provide FAR 52.251-1 authorization as appropriate and as approved by the Contracting Officer.

January proceeded with additional amendments and the Description: MSC RFP Attachment 3 “: Mobile Surveillance Capability Matrix” released. With the Matrix amendments specifically defined in the parameters, nominal desired values & the threshold acceptable how is this RFP considered open and fair? In addition the request to have this MSC unit delivered with 60 days of award indicates a prime contractor had already been chosen. Please clarify the time schedules and especially the matrix requirements.

The MSCM capability threshold values are based on Government need. The delivery schedules are based on Government need.

Delivery of the two First Article Units is due 60 days ARO. The response to Question 162, notted below, indicates that the GFE vehicle will not be available for 90 days. If this means the vehicle will be provied 90 days ARO it would be inconsistent with-the delivery requirement of 60 clays ARO.

Please provide clarification.

See updated RFP.

GFE – if the bidder requests GFE trucks as part of his solution, does that affect the bidders’ evaluated price?

The Government will include GFE expense in the consideration of "best value" as described in RFP section M. The cost range for GFE is between $30,000 - $60,000.

Will suppliers have the ability to make system improvements, component substitutions after the first 2 units are tested/accepted? If they will, what will be the process for making product changes?

The Government will consider post-award changes during the course of contractual deliveries, when those are in the Government's best interest. Any such changes must approved in advance by the Contracting Officer.