Q_and_A_12_August_2013.docx

Q&A 12 August 2013

HSCG23-13-R-PFC254

Q1. How many of each of the courses per year?

A1. Courses described in para 5.0 vary in duration and frequency. Advanced Marksmanship Training (Para 5.1) is conducted four times annually and requires approximately 2 weeks to complete. Advanced Interdiction Courses (Para 5.2) are conducted three times annually and require 7 weeks to complete. Individual and Team Proficiency Training is ongoing and includes three to four days of training each week throughout the year.

Q2. Are these separate courses to run concurrently, or do they build on each other?

A2. Training described in paragraphs 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 are run concurrently. Students attend these and other courses of training in progression. Skills learned in Advanced Marksmanship Training (Para 5.1) are applied during Advanced Interdiction Training Courses (Para 5.2) and Individual and Team Proficiency Training. Some Advanced Marksmanship Training evolutions are provided for experienced, fully qualified personnel in order to sustain or refresh their skills in these tasks.

Q3. Is this a year-round (60-month) effort for all three courses?

A3. Yes. All training described in paragraph 5.0 continues throughout the year. Due to changing requirements some courses, or segments of some courses, may be executed several times in order to re-train or re-qualify experienced personnel.

Q4. The PWS identifies the requirement to provide qualified personnel (PWS 1.3.2) to support HSRT requirements (PWS 5.0). The CLIN structure identified a yearly firm-fixed price to provide that support. Is it the intent of the government that these personnel provided on a full-time basis consistent with PWS 1.8?

A4. We assume HSRT is MSRT. It is the government’s intent that the contractor provide full time instructors throughout the year. As described in PWS 5.0, “the Government anticipates the Contractor to provide three Senior CQC Instructors, two CQC Instructors, and one Advanced Marksmanship Instructor.”

Q4 Part b. If the answer to the above question is no, please provide estimated number of hours a Government estimate on hours for each position or the duration and frequency of the classes being supported so more accurately develop a reasonable price?

AQ4 Part b. N/A

Q5. PWS 4.0 states “The Contractor shall furnish all ……..tools necessary to fulfill the requirements of this contract, with the exception of items detailed in Section 3.0.” Is there a specific list of tools required that should be priced into our proposal?

A5. The government will provide all supplies described in PWS 3.0 necessary to accomplish the training described in PWS 5.0. Any additional supplies that the contractor believes are necessary to support tasks described in PWS 5.0 must be provided by the contractor and priced accordingly.

Q6. Is it the intent of the Government to award CLIN 60001 (Transition CLIN) on a firm-fixed price basis at the plug number of $30,000?

A6. The guaranteed minimum amount for this IDIQ contract is $30,000.

Q7. The RFP mentions that the Project Manager is the "On-Site" contact for the COR. Is this position full time 30 days per month?

A7. See Amendment 000001

Q8. Are Contract Instructors, for the purpose of pricing, at the site full time after contract award?

A8. Yes. Due to training requirements described in PWS 5.0, and based on the unit’s typical training schedule, Contract instructors are required to be at the site full time in accordance with the projected hours addressed in PWS 1.8.

Q9. The RFP in section 5.0 identifies the following courses/classes: Advanced Marksmanship Training, Individual and Team (CQC Proficiency Training), Advanced Interdiction Training.

A9. Correct.

Q9-A. What is the length and support requirements (Instructors to student ratio) for each of the blocks of instruction?

A9-A. See answer A1.

Q9-B. Is it the governments intent to use all listed instructors each month of the contract?

A9-B. Yes.

Q9-C. CQC instruction covers vessels and port/Urban Areas. Are ship mockups/buildings and live fire ranges available at the primary training site?

A9-C. Yes. Suitable training facilities (ships, mock-ups, urban training areas) are available at or near the MSRT.

Q10. Will the govt assist the successful contractor with badging for base access?

A10. Yes.

Q11. Will the govt provide an office or instructor area for the duration of the contract? If so, will the office be furnished to include telephones and govt computers or will this be the responsibility of the contractor?

A11. The government will provide Contract Instructors suitable office spaces with phone and government computer access.

Q12. Delivery instructions state that each volume should be a separate document file, and the submission deadline paragraph states that offers’ shall submit an electronic version of their proposal in Adobe .pdf format. Does the government want Word (or Excel) document files only, .pdf files only, or both?

A12. Offerors shall submit an electronic version of their proposal in Adobe .pdf format.

Q13. Is there a file size limit for electronic submission?

A13. The proposals shall be submitted through FedBizOpps and not via e-mail. Therefore, any size limitations will be restricted based on FedBizOpps functionality.

Q14. Under Government Furnished Resources there is no mention of weapons being provided. Will the Government issue weapons or is the contractor required to provide weapons?

A14. Per section 3.3.1 of the PWS, the Government will provide all the necessary weapons when needed.

Q15. There are specific attachments specified in the solicitation but are not attached to the posting. Will they be provided? (The reference is in section 5.4 Attachment I and 5.5 Attachment III)

A15. A7. See Amendment 000001

Q16. Will we have access to your specific TTP's defined by the solicitation?

A16. Yes. References addressed in PWS 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, and 6.5 will be provided to the Contract Instructors.

Q17. Question: What is the Period of Performance?

A17. See PWS 1.6. Anticipated award date is mid to late September 2013.

Q18. What is the transition period (for instance, $30K for 1 month or 1 year?

[REF: CLIN 60001 - Description: Transition - Quantity: 1; Unit: Job; Extension: $30,000]

A18. The Government anticipates the transition period to be approximately two to four weeks.

Q19. For each of the courses mentioned in the Solicitation [REF: 5.1 Advanced Marksmanship Training; 5.2 Advanced Interdiction Training (CQC Qualification Training); 5.3 Individual and Team (CQC Proficiency Training)]

Q19-A. How many times (estimation?) are each of the courses to be taught in each of the five years?

Q19-B What is the instructor/student ratio for each course?

Q19-C What are the anticipated number of students for each course?

Q19-D What is the course length (each course)?

Q19-E Are any of the courses to be held concurrently?

Q19-F Are students to complete each of the courses sequentially?

A19. For Q19A, D, E, and F – see answer A1. The instructor/student ratio varies based on the type of training evolution conducted in these courses. Government provided instructors will work with Contract Instructors in order to ensure appropriate student to instructor ratio is maintained. Course sizes do vary, however, the following is a general estimate: Advanced Marksmanship Training includes up to 35 students; Advanced Interdiction Training Courses include up to 18 students; and Individual and Team Proficiency Training includes up to 25 personnel.

Q20. [REF: 5.3] Is CQC Proficiency Training held in different geographical locations? If so, what are the locations?

A20. See PWS 1.7. Approximately 90% of all training is conducted at or near Chesapeake, VA. Some training may be conducted at other locations.

Q21. [REF: 1.8] How many contractor employees are required to support the quarterly exercise? And where and when is that exercise generally held?

A21. Quarterly exercises are conducted in the Mid-Atlantic area, generally within 250 miles of Chesapeake. Three to six Contract Instructors will be required to support these exercises depending on the length and complexity of the exercise.

Q22. [REF: 1.3.2.1.2 Qualifications: Experience in current DSF or DOD SOF infiltration/exfiltration TTPs, including but not limited to fast rope insertion/extraction and hook and climb operations. ]

a. Is fast rope insertion/extraction and hook and climb part of the curriculum and required as practical class labs in this training?

b. If so, is the government providing a helicopter for fast rope insertions/extraction and a RHIB/vessel for hook and climb insertions/extractions if progressing further than a fast rope tower and ship mockup?

c. I did not see an instructor HRST certification/qualification for fast rope training. Is that not a requirement?

A22. Fast Rope and Hook and Climb training is conducted during training described in PWS 5.2, 5.3 and during Quarterly Exercises. The Government will provide the primary instructors and all resources for this training. Contract Instructors must be experienced in these skills in order to assist Government Instructors and provide feedback and recommendations during unit exercises or Advanced Interdiction Training (PWS 5.2) as these skills are integrated into full-mission-profile events.

Q23. Pricing - Should the monthly CLINs include the cost to employ the 7 FTEs specified personnel full-time for a one month period?

[REF: 1.3.1 PM; 1.3.2.1 Senior CQC Instructors (3); 1.3.2.2 CQC Instructors (2); 1.3.2.3 Advanced Marksmanship Instructor]

A23. See Amendment 00001

Q24. Is there an IDIQ per year maximum?

[REF: FAR 52.216-19 ORDER LIMITATIONS (OCT 1995) - a) Minimum order. (1) Any order for a single item in excess of IDIQ maximum…]

A24. There is no Maximum for this acquisition. The minimum will be met with CLIN 60001.

Q25. What does it mean that the quantities of supplies “are not purchased by this contract”?

[REF: FAR 52.216-22 INDEFINITE QUANTITY (OCT 1995) (a) This is an indefinite-quantity contract for the supplies or services specified and effective for the period stated, in the Schedule. The quantities of supplies and services specified in the Schedule are estimates only and are not purchased by this contract.]

A25. The IDIQ contract specifies the supplies or services. After award, a Task Order is created and orders against the IDIQ contract. The Task Order is the ordering vehicle.

Q26. What particular computer graphic programs?

[REF: Project Manager - 1.3.1.5 The PM shall be Proficient in using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and computer graphics programs. ]

A26. The use of basic programs to manipulate digital photographs and videos may be required during the development of class presentations or the development of after-action reviews.

Q27. Where are the attachments?

[REF: 5.4 The contractor shall distribute the course critique from Attachment I at the conclusion of each course. The contractor shall collect the course critiques and send them to the COR.

5.5 The contractor shall submit a monthly report (Attachment III) to the COR.]

A27. See Amendment 00001

Q28 Is there a 6.2 REFERENCE?

[REF: 6.0 REFERENCES -

6.1 Ordnance manual CIM 8000.2D

6.3 CQC TTP CGTTP 9-95.10 ]

A28. No.

Q29. Is there a table missing from the document?

[REF: 8.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY.

The PRS table below reflects ….]

A29. FedBizOpps only allows text. I change section 8 from a table format to text format. However, all the information contained in the table is in text format.

Q30. Is this a new opportunity or is there an incumbent, if what is the name of the incumbent.

A30. CACI Premier Technology, Inc. was the incumbent. However, it is important to understand that this solicitation is for a small portion of instructor services that were included on that contract. This solicitation is not a reprocurement of all of the services covered under that contract.

Q31. If there is an incumbent would you please provide the contract number under which the incumbent is operating.

A31. HSCG23-08-D-MOT010

Q32. Can the Advanced Marksmanship Instructor also serve as one of the CQC Instructors?

A32. No. Due to scheduling demands and concurrent training events the CQC Instructors cannot also fulfill the requirements of the Advanced Marksmanship Instructor.

Q33. What instruction is the Coast Guard using for weapons qualifications?

A33. PWS 6.1 and 6.4 lists the two CG Manuals which include weapons qualification standards.

Q34. Does the Coast Guard require any special/additional insurance for Instructors since we will be working with the Department of Homeland Security?

A34. Clause 52.228-5 Insurance—Work on a Government Installation (Jan 1997), will be addressed in Amendment 000002. This Amendment will be posted soon.

Q35. Is there an estimated Period of Performance (POP) start date?

A35. See A17 in response to Q17.

Q36. Is a facility security clearance required?

A36. All contractors are required to have a secret security clearance to have unescorted access the MSRT building.